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REVENUE RECOGNITION
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block]

NOTE 2 – REVENUE RECOGNITION

 

The Company recognizes revenue based on the following single principles-based, five-step model that is applied to all contracts with customers. These steps include (1) identify the contract(s) with the customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (5) recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied.  

 

Our revenue contracts with customers may include a promise or promises to deliver services such as broadband, video or voice services. Promised services are considered distinct as the customer can benefit from the services either on their own or together with other resources that are readily available to the customer and the Company’s promise to transfer service to the customer is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. The Company accounts for services as separate performance obligations. Each service is considered a single performance obligation as it provides a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer.

 

The transaction price is determined at contract inception and reflects the amount of consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for transferring service to the customer. This amount is generally equal to the market price of the services promised in the contract and may include promotional or bundling discounts. Most of our prices are based on tariffed rates filed with regulatory bodies or standard company price lists. The transaction price excludes amounts collected on behalf of third parties such as sales taxes and regulatory fees. Conversely, nonrefundable up-front fees, such as service activation and set-up fees, which are immaterial to our overall revenues, are included in the transaction price. In determining the transaction price, we consider our enforceable rights and obligations within the contract. We do not consider the possibility of a contract being cancelled, renewed or modified, which is consistent with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC 606-10-32-4).

 

The transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation based on the standalone selling price of the service, net of the related discount, as applicable.

 

Revenue is recognized when performance obligations are satisfied by transferring service to the customer as described below.

 

Significant Judgments

 

The Company often provides multiple services to a customer. Provision of CPE and additional service tiers may have a significant level of integration and interdependency with the subscription voice, video, Internet or connectivity services. Judgement is required to determine whether the provision of CPE, installation services and additional service tiers are considered distinct and accounted for separately, or not distinct and accounted for together with the subscription services.

 

Allocation of the transaction price to the distinct performance obligations in bundled service subscriptions requires judgement. The transaction price for a bundle of services is frequently less than the sum of standalone selling prices of each individual service. Bundled discounts are allocated proportionally to the selling price of each individual service within the bundle. Standalone selling prices for the Company’s services are directly observable.

 

Disaggregation of Revenue

                       

The following table summarizes revenue from contracts with customers for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022:

 

 

Twelve Months Ended December 31,

           
 

2023

 

2022

Voice Service¹

$

5,818,241

 

 

6,254,287

Network Access¹

 

3,938,587

   

4,898,470

Video Service¹

 

12,061,703

 

 

12,497,213

Data Service¹

 

25,214,978

   

24,680,039

Directory²

 

597,189

 

 

645,250

Other Contracted Revenue³

 

2,695,719

   

2,755,039

Other4

 

2,014,586

 

 

1,353,475

           

Revenue from customers

 

52,341,003

 

 

53,083,773

           

Subsidy and other revenue
outside scope of ASC 6065

 

13,450,965

 

 

12,630,696

           

Total revenue

$

65,791,968

 

$

65,714,469

 

¹ Month-to-Month contracts billed and consumed in the same month.

 

² Directory revenue is contracted annually, however, this revenue is recognized
monthly over the contract period as the advertising is used.

 

³ This includes long-term contracts where the revenue is recognized monthly over

the term of the contract.

 

4 This includes CPE and other equipment sales.

 

5 This includes governmental subsidies and lease revenue outside the scope of ASC

606.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2023, approximately 76.50% of our total revenue was from month-to-month and other contracted revenue from customers. Approximately 20.44% of our total revenue was from revenue sources outside of the scope of ASC 606. The remaining 3.06% of total revenue was from other sources including CPE and equipment sales and installation.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 78.72% of our total revenue was from month-to-month and other contracted revenue from customers. Approximately 19.22% of our total revenue was from revenue sources outside of the scope of ASC 606. The remaining 2.06% of total revenue was from other sources including CPE and equipment sales and installation.

 

A significant portion of our revenue is derived from customers who may generally cancel their subscriptions at any time without penalty. As such, the amount of revenue related to unsatisfied performance obligations is not necessarily indicative of the future revenue to be recognized from our existing customer base. Revenue from customers with a contractually specified term and non-cancelable service period will be recognized over the term of such contracts, which is generally three to ten years for these types of contracts.

 

Nature of Services

 

Revenues are earned from our customers primarily through the connection to our advanced fiber networks, digital and commercial TV programming, Internet services (high-speed broadband), and hosted and managed services. Revenues for these services are billed based on set rates for monthly service or based on the amount of time the customer is utilizing our facilities. The revenue for these services is recognized over time as the service is rendered.

 

Voice Service – We receive recurring revenue for basic local services that enable end-user customers to make and receive telephone calls within a defined local calling area for a flat monthly fee. In addition to subscribing to basic local telephone services, our customers may choose from multiple voice service plans with a variety of custom calling features such as call waiting, call forwarding, caller identification and voicemail. Our VOIP digital phone service is also available as an alternative to the traditional telephone line. Customers may generally cancel their subscriptions at any time without penalty. Each subscription service provided is accounted for as a distinct performance obligation and revenue is recognized over a one-month service period as the subscription services are delivered. Other optional services purchased by the customer are generally accounted for as a distinct performance obligation when purchased and revenue is recognized when the service is provided.

 

Network Access – We provide access services to other communication carriers for the use of our facilities to terminate or originate long distance calls on our fiber network. Additionally, we bill monthly SLCs to substantially all our customers for access to the public switched network. These monthly SLCs are regulated and approved by the FCC. In addition, network access revenue is derived from several federally administered pooling arrangements designed to provide support and distribute funding to us.

 

Revenues earned from other communication carriers accessing our network are based on the utilization of our network by these carriers as measured by minutes of use on the network or special access to the network by the individual carriers monthly. Revenues are billed at tariffed access rates for both interstate and intrastate calls and are recognized into revenue monthly based on the period the access was provided.

 

The NECA pools and redistributes the SLCs to various communication providers through the CAF. These revenues are earned and recognized into revenue monthly. Any adjustments to these amounts received by NECA are adjusted for in revenue upon receipt of the adjustment.

 

Video Service – We provide a variety of enhanced video services on a monthly recurring basis to our customers.  Depending on geographical market availability, our video services range from limited basic service to advanced digital TV, which includes several plans each with hundreds of local, national music channels including premium and pay-per-view channels as well as video-on-demand service. Certain customers may also subscribe to our advanced video services, which consist of HD TV, DVR and Whole Home DVR. Our Whole Home DVR allows customers the ability to watch recorded shows on any TV in the house, record multiple shows at one time and utilize an intuitive on-screen guide and user interface. Video subscribers also have access to our TV Everywhere service which allows subscriber access to full episodes of available shows, movies and live screens using a computer or mobile device. We also receive monthly recurring revenue from our subscribers for providing commercial TV programming in competition with CATV, satellite dish TV and off-air TV service providers. Customers may generally cancel their subscriptions at any time without penalty. Each subscription service provided is accounted for as a distinct performance obligation and revenue is recognized over a one-month service period as the subscription services are delivered. Other optional services purchased by the customer are generally accounted for as a distinct performance obligation when purchased and revenue is recognized when the service is provided.

 

Data Service – We provide high speed Internet to business and residential customers depending on the nature of the network facilities that are available, the level of service selected and the location. Our revenue is earned based on the offering of various flat packages based on the level of service, data speeds and features. We also provide e-mail and managed services, such as web hosting and design, on-line file back up and on-line file storage. Data customers may generally cancel their subscriptions at any time without penalty. Each subscription service provided is accounted for as a distinct performance obligation and revenue is recognized over a one-month service period as the subscription services are delivered. Other optional services purchased by the customer are generally accounted for as a distinct performance obligation when purchased and revenue is recognized when the service is provided.

 

Directory – Our directory publishing revenue in our telephone directories recurs monthly and is recognized as revenue monthly. 

 

Other Contracted Revenue - Managed services and certain other data customers include advanced fiber-delivered communications and managed information technology solutions to mainly business customers, as well as high-capacity last-mile data connectivity services to wireless and wireline carriers. Services are primarily offered on a subscription basis with a contractually specified and non-cancelable service period. The non-cancelable contract terms for these customers generally range from three to ten years. Each subscription service provided is accounted for as a distinct performance obligation and revenue is recognized ratably over the contract period as the subscription services are delivered. These services are billed as monthly recurring charges to customers. 

 

Other – We also generate revenue from the sales, service and installation of CPE and other services. Sales and service of CPE are billed and recognized into revenue once the sale or service is complete or delivered. These sales and services are generally short-term in nature and are completed within one month. Other revenues are immaterial to our total revenues.

 

Subsidy and Other Revenue outside the Scope of ASC 606 – We receive subsidies from governmental entities to operate and expand our advanced fiber networks. In addition, we have revenue from leasing arrangements. Both revenue streams are outside of the scope of ASC 606. 

 

Interstate access rates are established by a nationwide pooling of companies known as NECA. The FCC established NECA in 1983 to develop and administer interstate access service rates, terms and conditions. Revenues are pooled and redistributed based on a company's actual or average costs. There has been a change in the composition of interstate access charges in recent years, shifting more of the charges to the end user and reducing the amount of access charges paid by the IXC’s. We believe this trend will continue.

 

Intrastate access rates are filed with state regulatory commissions in Minnesota and Iowa.

 

The Company currently receives funding based on the A-CAM as described below, except for Scott-Rice, which receives funding from the FUSF. Scott-Rice’s settlements from the pools are based on nationwide average schedules, which includes the pooling and redistribution of revenues based on a company’s actual or average costs as described below. 

 

A-CAM

 

As described above, except Scott-Rice, the remainder of our companies receive funding from A-CAM.

 

Per the FCC Public Notice DA 19-115, the Company receives A-CAM support and has corresponding service deployment obligations under that program. The Company annually receives (i) $596,084 for its Iowa operations and (ii) $8,354,481 for its Minnesota operations. The Company will receive the A-CAM support for a period of 10 years, which started in 2019. The Company uses the funding that it receives through the A-CAM program to meet its defined broadband build-out obligations, which the Company is currently completing.

 

On September 29, 2023, Nuvera announced that it had notified the FCC that the Company had decided to remain on the current A-CAM funding, rather than moving to the E-ACAM program that the FCC introduced earlier in 2023. A-CAM and E-ACAM are FCC administered programs to subsidize the deployment of broadband to rural areas. E-ACAM is a successor to this program which requires participating carriers to offer broadband and voice services at speeds of 100/20 Mbps or faster to all E-ACAM required locations within its study area. Broadband providers were required to choose one of the two funding options and notify the FCC by September 29, 2023.

Accounts Receivable, Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities

 

The following table provides information about our receivables, contracts assets and contract liabilities from revenue contracts with our customers:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

2023

 

2022

 

2021

                 

Accounts receivable, net

$

1,966,012

 

$

1,477,692

 

$

1,512,369

Contract assets

 

1,458,631

   

794,193

   

662,437

Contract liabilities

 

551,995

 

 

626,306

 

 

602,007

 

Accounts Receivable

 

A receivable is recognized in the period the Company provides goods and services when the Company’s right to consideration is unconditional. Payment terms on invoiced amounts are generally 30-60 days.

 

Contract Assets

 

Contract assets include costs that are incremental to the acquisition of a contract. Incremental costs are those that result directly from obtaining a contract or costs that would not have been incurred if the contract had not been obtained, which primarily relates to sales commissions. We defer and amortize these costs over the expected customer life as the contract obligations are satisfied. We determined that the expected customer life is the expected period of benefit as the commission on the renewal contact is commensurate with the commission on the initial contract. During the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, the Company recognized expenses of $493,987 and $300,614, respectively, related to deferred contract acquisition costs. Short-term contract assets are included in current assets under prepaid expenses and other current assets. Long-term contract assets are included in investments and other assets under other assets.

 

Contract Liabilities

 

Contract liabilities include deferred revenues related to advanced payments for services and nonrefundable, upfront service activation and set-up fees, which are generally deferred. In addition, contact liabilities include customer deposits that are not recognized as revenue, but are instead returned to the customer after a holding period. Short-term contract liabilities include deferred revenues for advanced payments for managed services and other long-term contracts. This includes the current portion of the deferred revenues that will be recognized monthly within one year. Short-term contact liabilities are included in current liabilities under other accrued liabilities. Long-term contract liabilities include deferred revenues for advanced payments for managed services and other long-term contracts. This includes the portion longer than one year and the corresponding deferred revenues are recognized into revenue on a monthly basis based on the term of the contract. Long-term contact liabilities are included in noncurrent liabilities under other accrued liabilities.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 the Company recognized revenues of $364,644 and $349,109, respectively, related to deferred revenues.

 

Performance Obligations

 

ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, requires that the Company disclose the aggregate amount of the transaction price that is allocated to remaining performance obligations that are unsatisfied as of December 31, 2023. The guidance provides certain practical expedients that limit this requirement. The service revenue contracts of the Company meet the following practical expedients provided by ASC 606:

 

1.  The performance obligation is part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less.

 

2.  Revenue is recognized from the satisfaction of the performance obligations in the amount billable to the customer in accordance with ASC 606-10-55-18.

 

The Company has elected these practical expedients. Performance obligations related to our service revenue contracts are generally satisfied over time. For services transferred over time, revenue is recognized based on amounts invoiced to the customer as the Company has concluded that the invoice amount directly corresponds with the value of services provided to the customer. Management considers this a faithful depiction of the transfer of control as services are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer over the life of the contract. As such, revenue related to unsatisfied performance obligations that will be billed in future periods has not been disclosed.