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Accounts Receivable
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts Receivable [Abstract]  
Accounts Receivable

(4)   Accounts Receivable:

The components of accounts receivable, net at December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

2015

 

2014

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail and Wholesale

 

$ 

 569 

 

$

 630 

Other

 

 

 59 

 

 

 56 

Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

 (57)

 

 

 (72)

Accounts receivable, net

 

$

 571 

 

$

 614 

 

An analysis of the activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Balance at beginning of Period

 

Charged to Other Revenue

 

Charged (Credited) to Switched and Nonswitched Revenue and Other Accounts

 

Write-offs, net of Recoveries

 

Balance at end of Period

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2013

 

$ 

 93 

 

$

 69 

 

$

 (3)

 

$

 (88)

 

$

 71 

2014

 

$ 

 71 

 

$

 61 

 

$

 -

 

$

 (60)

 

$

 72 

2015

 

$ 

 72 

 

$

 67 

 

$

 (17)

 

$

 (65)

 

$

 57 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts based on our estimate of our ability to collect accounts receivable. The provision for uncollectible amounts was $50 million, $61 million and $66 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Our allowance for doubtful accounts declined in 2015, primarily as a result of the resolution of a principal carrier dispute.