Stock Compensation Plans (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Share-based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock Compensation Plans

Stock Compensation Plans

Charter’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan provides for grants of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance units and performance shares, share awards, phantom stock, restricted stock units and restricted stock.  Directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as others performing consulting services for the Company, are eligible for grants under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

The Company granted the following equity awards for the years presented.

	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2014	2013	2014	2013
Stock options	11,100	71,600	1,228,500	225,200
Restricted stock	—	—	9,100	12,700
Restricted stock units	2,300	19,200	152,700	59,000

Stock options granted prior to 2014 generally vest annually over three or four years from either the grant date or delayed vesting commencement dates. Stock options generally expire ten years from the grant date. Restricted stock vests annually over a one to four-year period beginning from the date of grant. Certain stock options and restricted stock vest based on achievement of stock price hurdles. Restricted stock units have no voting rights, and restricted stock units granted prior to 2014 vest ratably over three or four years from either the grant date or delayed vesting commencement dates. Stock options and restricted stock units granted in 2014 cliff vest over three years. As of September 30, 2014, total unrecognized compensation remaining to be recognized in future periods totaled $74 million for stock options, $11 million for restricted stock and $29 million for restricted stock units and the weighted average period over which they are expected to be recognized is 2 years for stock options, 1 year for restricted stock and 2 years for restricted stock units.

The Company recorded $14 million and $41 million of stock compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, and $11 million and $37 million of stock compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, which is included in operating costs and expenses.