Operating Costs and Expenses (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]

Operating Costs and Expenses

Operating Costs and Expenses

Operating costs and expenses consist of the following for the years presented:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2014		2013		2012
Programming	$	2,459	$	2,146	$	1,965
Franchise, regulatory and connectivity	428		399		383
Costs to service customers	1,675		1,561		1,394
Marketing	529		488		431
Other	882		751		687
	$	5,973	$	5,345	$	4,860

Programming costs consist primarily of costs paid to programmers for basic, premium, digital, video on demand, and pay-per-view programming. Franchise, regulatory and connectivity costs represent payments to franchise and regulatory authorities and costs directly related to providing Internet and voice services. Costs to service customers include residential and commercial costs related to field operations, network operations and customer care including internal and third party labor for installations, service and repairs, maintenance, billing and collection, occupancy and vehicle costs. Marketing costs represents the costs of marketing to our current and potential commercial and residential customers including labor costs. Other includes bad debt expense, corporate overhead, commercial and advertising sales expenses, property tax and insurance and stock compensation expense, among others.