Comprehensive Income (Loss)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(14)Comprehensive Income (Loss):

Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income (loss) and other gains and losses affecting shareholders’ investment and pension/postretirement benefit (OPEB) liabilities that, under GAAP, are excluded from net income/(loss).

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax at December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, and changes for the years then ended, are as follows:

($ in millions)	Pension Costs		OPEB Costs		Deferred taxes on pension and OPEB costs		Total
Balance at January 1, 2014	$	(412)	$	(5)	$	156	$	(261)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(140)		(113)		98		(155)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		20		(1)		(7)		12
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		(120)		(114)		91		(143)
Balance at December 31, 2014		(532)		(119)		247		(404)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(81)		136		(24)		31
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		29		3		(12)		20
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		(52)		139		(36)		51
Balance at December 31, 2015		(584)		20		211		(353)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(103)		17		32		(54)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		40		(8)		(12)		20
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		(63)		9		20		(34)
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	(647)	$	29	$	231	$	(387)

As a result of the CTF Acquisition, the Frontier Communications Pension Plan (the Plan) was remeasured.  This remeasurement resulted in a decrease in the discount rate from 4.50% at December 31, 2015 to 4.00% at the date of the CTF Acquisition. This change in the discount rate resulted in a remeasurement charge to Other comprehensive income (loss) of $105 million during 2016.  

The significant items reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 are as follows:

	Amount Reclassified from
($ in millions)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (a)
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components	2016		2015		2014		Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income (Loss)  is Presented
Amortization of Pension Cost Items (b)
Actuarial gains (losses)	$	(40)	$	(29)	$	(20)
		(40)		(29)		(20)	Income (loss) before income taxes
Tax impact		15		11		7	Income tax (expense) benefit
	$	(25)	$	(18)	$	(13)	Net income (loss)
Amortization of OPEB Cost Items (b)
Prior-service costs	$	9	$	5	$	4
Actuarial gains (losses)		(1)		(8)		(3)
		8		(3)		1	Income (loss) before income taxes
Tax impact		(3)		1		-	Income tax (expense) benefit
	$	5	$	(2)	$	1	Net income (loss)

(a) Amounts in parentheses indicate losses.

(b) These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic pension and OPEB costs (see Note 17 - Retirement Plans for additional details).