Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X for interim financial information. Accordingly, these statements do not include all of the information and notes required for complete financial statements prepared under GAAP. In our opinion, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Our results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.

For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

“Cost of services.” Historically, as we built-out our 5G Network, certain direct costs related to our 5G Network Deployment, including lease expense on communication towers, transport, cloud services and other costs, were presented within “Cost of sales – equipment and other” on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) as our 5G Network service had not commenced. As we have commenced utilizing our 5G Network for commercial traffic, such amounts now represent costs of operating our 5G Network and are, beginning on January 1, 2024, presented within the “Cost of services” on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). The change has no impact on net income. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the direct costs related to our 5G Network Deployment included within the “Cost of sales – equipment and other” on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) were $183 million.

Principles of Consolidation

We consolidate all majority owned subsidiaries, investments in entities in which we have controlling influence and VIEs where we have been determined to be the primary beneficiary. Minority interests are recorded as noncontrolling interests or redeemable noncontrolling interests. See below for further information. Non-consolidated investments are accounted for using the equity method when we have the ability to significantly influence the operating decisions of the investee. When we do not have the ability to significantly influence the operating decisions of an investee, these equity securities are classified as either marketable investment securities or other investments, which will be initially recorded at cost, and based on observable market prices, will be adjusted to their fair value. We record fair value adjustments in “Other, net” within “Other Income (Expense)” on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

Northstar Wireless. Northstar Wireless, L.L.C. (“Northstar Wireless”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northstar Spectrum, LLC (“Northstar Spectrum”), which is an entity wholly-owned by us and, prior to October 12, 2023, by us and Northstar Manager, LLC (“NorthStar Manager”). On October 12, 2023, the FCC consented to the sale of Northstar Manager’s ownership interests in Northstar Spectrum, which we purchased for a total of approximately $109 million This purchase resulted in the elimination of all of our redeemable noncontrolling interest as it related to Northstar Spectrum as of the purchase date and we continue to consolidate the Northstar Entities as wholly-owned subsidiaries.

SNR Wireless. SNR Wireless LicenseCo, LLC (“SNR Wireless”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNR Wireless HoldCo, LLC (“SNR HoldCo”), which is an entity owned by us and our parent’s direct wholly-owned subsidiary, EchoStar SNR Holdco L.L.C. and, prior to February 16, 2024, by us and SNR Wireless Management, LLC (“SNR Management”). On February 16, 2024, the FCC consented to the sale of SNR Management’s ownership interests in SNR HoldCo, which was purchased by EchoStar SNR HoldCo L.L.C. for a total of approximately $442 million. This purchase resulted in the conversion of our outstanding redeemable noncontrolling interest as it relates to SNR HoldCo to noncontrolling interest, which is now held by our parent, EchoStar, as of the purchase date and we continue to consolidate the SNR Entities into our financial statements.

For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense for each reporting period. Estimates are based on historical experience, observable market inputs, and other reasonable assumptions in accounting for, among other things, allowances for credit losses (including those related to our installment billing programs), self-insurance obligations, deferred taxes and related valuation allowances, uncertain tax positions, loss contingencies, fair value of financial instruments, fair value of options granted under our stock-based compensation plans, fair value of assets and liabilities acquired in business combinations, inputs used to recognize revenue over time, including the relative standalone selling prices of performance obligations, finance leases, asset impairments, estimates of future cash flows used to evaluate and recognize impairments, useful lives of property, equipment and intangible assets, incremental borrowing rate (“IBR”) on lease right of use assets, nonrefundable upfront fees, independent third-party retailer incentives, programming expenses and subscriber lives. Economic conditions may increase the inherent uncertainty in the estimates and assumptions indicated above. Actual results may differ from previously estimated amounts, and such differences may be material to our condensed consolidated financial statements. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically, and the effects of revisions are reflected prospectively in the period they occur.

Capitalized Interest

We capitalize interest associated with the acquisition or construction of certain assets, including, among other things, our Wireless spectrum licenses, build-out costs associated with our 5G Network Deployment and satellites. Capitalization of interest begins when, among other things, steps are taken to prepare the asset for its intended use and ceases when the asset is ready for its intended use or when these activities are substantially suspended.

We are currently commercializing our 5G Network Deployment. As a result, the interest expense related to the carrying amount of the 5G Network Deployment qualifying assets is being capitalized. Historically, the qualifying assets exceeded the carrying value of our long-term debt and finance lease obligations, therefore substantially all of our interest expense was being capitalized. As the qualifying assets, including certain bands of wireless spectrum licenses, have been placed into service with the deployment of our 5G Network, we no longer capitalize substantially all interest on those assets. We expect this trend to continue.

Fair Value Measurements

We determine fair value based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Market or observable inputs are the preferred source of values, followed by unobservable inputs or assumptions based on hypothetical transactions in the absence of market inputs. We apply the following hierarchy in determining fair value:

● Level 1, defined as observable inputs being quoted prices in active markets for identical assets;

● Level 2, defined as observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, including quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; and quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-derived valuations in which significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and

● Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs for which little or no market data exists, consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other participants therefore requiring assumptions based on the best information available.

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the carrying amount for cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable (net of allowance for credit losses) and current liabilities (excluding the “Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations”) was equal to or approximated fair value due to their short-term nature or proximity to current market rates.

Fair values of our marketable investment securities are measured on a recurring basis based on a variety of observable market inputs. For our investments in publicly traded equity securities and U.S. government securities, fair value ordinarily is determined based on Level 1 measurements that reflect quoted prices for identical securities in active markets. Fair values of our investments in other marketable debt securities are generally based on Level 2 measurements as the markets for such debt securities are less active. We consider trades of identical debt securities on or near the measurement date as a strong indication of fair value and matrix pricing techniques that consider par value, coupon rate, credit quality, maturity and other relevant features may also be used to determine fair value of our investments in marketable debt securities. Additionally, we use fair value measurements from time to time in connection with other investments, asset impairment testing and the assignment of purchase consideration to assets and liabilities of acquired companies. Those fair value measurements typically include significant unobservable inputs and are categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Transfers between levels in the fair value hierarchy are considered to occur at the beginning of the quarterly accounting period. There were no transfers between levels during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. See Note 4 for the fair value of our marketable investment securities and derivative instruments.

Furthermore, for any sale of a financial asset in a transaction among entities under common control the difference between the net carrying value and the fair value of the assets sold, if any, is recorded as a gain or loss on the sale of the financial asset in “Other, net” within “Other Income (Expense)” on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Fair values for our publicly traded debt securities are based on quoted market prices, when available. The fair values of private debt are based on, among other things, available trade information, and/or an analysis in which we evaluate market conditions, related securities, various public and private offerings, and other publicly available information. In performing this analysis, we make various assumptions regarding, among other things, credit spreads, and the impact of these factors on the value of the debt securities. See Note 8 for the fair value of our long-term debt.

Assets Recognized Related to the Costs to Obtain a Contract with a Customer

We recognize an asset for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if we expect the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year.  We have determined that certain sales incentive programs in our Pay-TV and Retail Wireless segments, including those with our independent third-party retailers, meet the requirements to be capitalized, and payments made under these programs are capitalized and amortized to expense over the estimated customer life or the contract term.  These amounts are capitalized in “Prepaids and other assets” and “Other noncurrent assets, net” on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and then amortized in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Advertising Costs

We recognize advertising expense when incurred as a component of “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). Advertising expenses totaled $123 million and $129 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Research and Development

Research and development costs, not incurred in connection with customer requirements, are expensed as incurred and are included as a component of “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). Research and development costs totaled $7 million and $11 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Joint Ventures. On August 23, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-05, Business Combinations — Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60) (“ASU 2023-05”), which requires an entity that qualifies as either a joint venture or a corporate joint venture as defined in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) master glossary to apply a new basis of accounting upon the formation of the joint venture. This standard will be effective for all joint venture formations with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025. A joint venture that was formed before January 1, 2025 may elect to apply the amendments retrospectively if it has sufficient information. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period in which financial statements have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. We are evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2023-05 will have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.

Segment Reporting. On November 27, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07 Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reporting Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), which will enhance financial reporting by providing additional information about a public company’s significant segment expenses and more timely and detailed segment information reporting throughout the fiscal period. This standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2023-07 will have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.

Income Taxes. On December 14, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-9, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), which will enhance income tax disclosures. ASU 2023-09 requires among other items disaggregated information in a reporting entity’s rate reconciliation table, clarification on uncertain tax positions and the related financial statement impact as well as information on income taxes paid on a disaggregated basis.  This standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024.  Early adoption is permitted.  We are evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2023-09 will have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.