Goodwill And Other Intangibles

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Goodwill And Other Intangibles [Abstract]

(6) Goodwill and Other Intangibles:

The activity in our goodwill from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 is as follows:



($ in millions)	Goodwill

Balance at January 1, 2015	$	7,205
Connecticut Acquisition (Note 3)		(53)
Other Acquisition		14
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	7,166

The components of other intangibles at December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:



($ in millions)	2015						2014
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Carrying Amount

Other Intangibles:
Customer base	$	2,998	$	(1,977)	$	1,021	$	3,018	$	(1,640)	$	1,378
Trade name		122		-		122		122		-		122
Total other intangibles	$	3,120	$	(1,977)	$	1,143	$	3,140	$	(1,640)	$	1,500

Amortization expense was $337 million, $304 million and $329 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Amortization expense represents the amortization of our customer lists acquired as a result of the Connecticut Acquisition and the acquisition of certain Verizon properties in 2010 (the 2010 Acquisition) with each based on a useful life of 9 to 12 years on an accelerated method. Amortization expense, excluding the impact of the Verizon Transaction and based on our current estimate of useful lives, is estimated to be approximately $285 million in 2016, $230 million in 2017, $175 million in 2018, $120 million in 2019 and $80 million in 2020.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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