Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

The accounting policies of UScellular conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) as set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC). Unless otherwise specified, references to accounting provisions and GAAP in these notes refer to the requirements of the FASB ASC. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of UScellular, subsidiaries in which it has a controlling financial interest, general partnerships in which UScellular has a majority partnership interest and certain entities in which UScellular has a variable interest that requires consolidation into the UScellular financial statements under GAAP. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Basis of Accounting

Certain numbers included herein are rounded to millions for ease of presentation; however, certain calculated amounts and percentages are determined using the unrounded numbers. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in UScellular’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2023.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items, unless otherwise disclosed) necessary for the fair statement of UScellular’s financial position as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, its results of operations and changes in equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and its cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. The Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income was not included because comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, equaled net income. These results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. UScellular has not changed its significant accounting and reporting policies from those disclosed in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Revenue from Contract with Customer

As practical expedients, revenue related to contracts of less than one year, generally month-to-month contracts, and contracts with a fixed per-unit price and variable quantity, are excluded from these estimates. UScellular expects that commission fees paid as a result of obtaining contracts are recoverable, and therefore UScellular defers and amortizes these costs. As a practical expedient, costs with an amortization period of one year or less are expensed as incurred.Deferred commission fees are amortized based on the timing of transfer of the goods or services to which the assets relate, typically the contract term.

Variable Interest Entities

UScellular consolidates VIEs in which it has a controlling financial interest as defined by GAAP and is therefore deemed the primary beneficiary. UScellular reviews the criteria for a controlling financial interest at the time it enters into agreements and subsequently when events warranting reconsideration occur. These VIEs have risks similar to those described in the “Risk Factors” in this Form 10-Q and UScellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.