Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of finite-lived intangible assets, useful life

Finite-lived intangible assets and liabilities are being amortized over the following estimated useful lives that were established on the dates acquired:

	Estimated Useful Life
Affiliate contract expansion	4 - 14 years
Favorable and unfavorable leases - wireless	1 - 28 years
Acquired subscribers - cable	3 - 10 years
Other intangibles	15 - 20 years

The Company recorded the following in the wireless segment:

($ in thousands)	Estimated Useful Life (in years)	February 1, 2018
Affiliate contract expansion	12	$	45,148
Prepayment of tangible assets	N/A	6,497
Off-market leases - favorable	16.5	3,665
Off-market leases - unfavorable	4.2	(3,310		)
Total		$	52,000

Intangible assets consisted of the following:

	December 31, 2018							December 31, 2017
(in thousands)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization and Other			Net		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization and Other			Net
Non-amortizing intangibles:
Cable franchise rights	$	64,334	$	—		$	64,334	$	64,334	$	—		$	64,334
Railroad crossing rights	141		—			141		141		—			141
Total non-amortizing intangibles	64,475		—			64,475		64,475		—			64,475
Finite-lived intangibles:
Affiliate contract expansion - Wireless	455,305		(167,830		)	287,475		410,157		(105,964		)	304,193
Favorable leases - Wireless	15,743		(1,919		)	13,824		13,103		(1,222		)	11,881
Acquired subscribers - Cable	25,265		(25,250		)	15		25,265		(25,100		)	165
Other intangibles	463		(223		)	240		463		(198		)	265
Total finite-lived intangibles	496,776		(195,222		)	301,554		448,988		(132,484		)	316,504
Total intangible assets	$	561,251	$	(195,222	)	$	366,029	$	513,463	$	(132,484	)	$	380,979

Schedule of stock compensation expense

Pre-tax share and stock-based compensation charges from our incentive plans included in net income (loss) were as follows:

(in thousands)	2018		2017		2016
Stock compensation expense	$	5,367	$	4,184	$	3,506
Capitalized stock compensation	408		604		485
Stock compensation expense, net	4,959		3,580		3,021
Excess tax benefits, net of deficiencies	$	1,523	$	3,314	$	1,709