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Intangible Assets, Net
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]  
Intangible Assets, Net

6.INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

The following table provides the gross and net carrying amounts for each major class of intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2014

 

As of December 31, 2013

 

 

Gross carrying

 

Accumulated

 

Net book

 

Gross carrying

 

Accumulated

 

Net book

 

 

amount

 

amortization

 

value

 

amount

 

amortization

 

value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

Current contract intangibles

 

$
3,800,298 

 

$
(830,888)

 

$
2,969,410 

 

$
3,154,616 

 

$
(649,861)

 

$
2,504,755 

Network location intangibles

 

 
1,331,398 

 

 
(390,053)

 

 
941,345 

 

 
1,209,142 

 

 
(326,699)

 

 
882,443 

Intangible assets, net

 

$
5,131,696 

 

$
(1,220,941)

 

$
3,910,755 

 

$
4,363,758 

 

$
(976,560)

 

$
3,387,198 

 

All intangible assets noted above are included in the Company’s site leasing segments. The Company amortizes its intangible assets using the straight-line method over an estimated economic life of 15 years. Amortization expense relating to the intangible assets was $86.2 million and $68.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $250.5 million and $201.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These amounts are subject to changes in estimates resulting from purchase price adjustments.