Intangible Assets

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets:

The Company operates wireless broadband mobile networks under licenses granted by the FCC for a particular geographic area on spectrum allocated by the FCC for terrestrial wireless broadband services. The Company holds personal communications services (“PCS”) licenses, advanced wireless services (“AWS”) licenses, 700 MHz licenses and microwave licenses granted or acquired on various dates. The PCS licenses previously included, and the AWS licenses currently include, the obligation and resulting costs to relocate existing fixed microwave users of the Company's licensed spectrum if the Company's use of its spectrum interferes with their systems and/or reimburse other carriers (according to FCC rules) that relocated prior users if the relocation benefits the Company's system. Accordingly, the Company incurs costs related to microwave relocation in constructing its PCS and AWS networks. FCC Licenses and related microwave relocation costs are recorded at cost.

The change in the carrying value of intangible assets during the six months endedJune 30, 2012 is as follows (in thousands):

	FCC Licenses		Microwave Relocation Costs
Balance at January 1, 2012	$	2,513,770	$	25,271
Additions	21,947		916
Disposals	—		—
Balance at June 30, 2012	$	2,535,717	$	26,187

Although PCS, AWS, 700 MHz and microwave licenses are issued with a stated term between ten and fifteen years, the renewal of PCS, AWS, 700 MHz and microwave licenses is generally a routine matter without substantial cost and the Company has determined that no legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic, or other factors currently exist that limit the useful life of its PCS, AWS, 700 MHz and microwave licenses. As such, under the provisions of ASC 350, (Topic 350, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other”), the Company's PCS, AWS, 700 MHz and microwave licenses and microwave relocation costs (collectively, the "indefinite-lived intangible assets") are not amortized because they are considered to have indefinite lives, but are tested at least annually for impairment.

In accordance with the requirements of ASC 350, the Company performs its annual indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment test as of each September 30th or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets might be impaired. The impairment test consists of a comparison of estimated fair value with the carrying value. An impairment loss would be recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the related indefinite-lived intangible assets and charged to results of operations. No impairment was recognized as a result of the test performed at September 30, 2011. Further, there have been no subsequent indicators of impairment including those indicated in ASC 360 (Topic 360, “Property, Plant, and Equipment”). Accordingly, no subsequent interim impairment tests were performed.

Other Spectrum Acquisitions

During the six months endedJune 30, 2012, the Company closed on the acquisition of microwave spectrum in the net aggregate amount of $21.9 million in cash.