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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its majority-owned subsidiaries and certain entities, which are consolidated in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) authoritative guidance on the consolidation of variable interest entities since it is determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of these entities.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates relate to the allowance for credit losses on trade receivables, useful lives of the Company’s fixed and finite-lived intangible assets, allocation of purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets, goodwill and income taxes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all investments with an original maturity of three months or less at date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company places its cash and temporary investments with banks and other institutions that it believes have a high credit quality. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $21.8 million of its cash on deposit with noninsured institutions such as corporate money market issuers and cash held in foreign banks. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are not subject to any restrictions (see Note 8). As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company held $5.7 million and $4.9 million, respectively, of its cash in Guyana dollars. While there are risks associated with the conversion of Guyana dollars to US dollars due to limited liquidity in the Guyana foreign currency markets, to date it has not prevented the Company from converting Guyana dollars into US dollars within a given three month period or from converting at a price that reasonably approximates the reported exchange rate.

Restricted Cash

The Company classifies cash that is legally restricted as to withdrawal or usage as restricted cash. Restricted cash as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 primarily relates to cash that is restricted for regulatory purposes.

Short Term Investments

The Company's short-term investments consist of corporate bonds, which have remaining maturities of more than three months at the date of purchase, and equity securities classified as available for sale, which are stated at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded in other income. The estimated fair values of investments are based on quoted market prices as of the end of the reporting period.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Company records an estimate of future credit losses in conjunction with the revenue transactions based on information available including historical experience, credit worthiness of customers, the Company’s historical experience with customers, current market and economic conditions, and management’s expectations of future conditions. That estimate is updated as additional information becomes available. Uncollectible amounts are charged against the allowance account. The Company’s allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable is based on management’s assessment of the collectability of assets pooled together with similar risk characteristics.

Inventory, Materials and Supplies

Inventory, materials and supplies primarily include handsets and other equipment held for sale to customers. These balances are recorded at the lower of cost, determined on the basis of specific identification, or market, determined using replacement value.

Fixed Assets

The Company’s fixed assets are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method generally between 3 and 39 years. Expenditures for major renewals and betterments that extend the useful lives of fixed assets are capitalized to fixed assets. Repairs and replacements of minor items of property are charged to period operating expense as incurred. The cost of fixed assets in service and under construction includes internal and external costs necessary to bring an asset to the condition and location necessary for its intended use. Grants received for the construction of assets are recognized as a reduction of the cost of fixed assets, a subsequent reduction of depreciation expense over the useful lives of those assets within the income statement and as an investing cash flow in the statements of cash flows.

The Company capitalizes certain costs of developing and purchasing new information systems in accordance with internal use software guidance. These costs are depreciated over the useful life of the information system. The Company also incurs implementation costs associated with cloud computing arrangements. If these implementation costs do not meet internal use software capitalization guidance, the implementation costs are recorded as prepaid assets and expensed through operating expense over the life of the arrangement.

The fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation is recorded in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. In periods subsequent to initial measurement, period-to-period changes in the liability for an asset retirement obligation resulting from the passage of time and revisions to either the timing or the amount of the original estimate of undiscounted cash flows are recognized. The increase in the carrying value of the associated long-lived asset is depreciated over the corresponding estimated economic life. Other liabilities within the consolidated balance sheets include accruals of $11.4 million and $10.3 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, for estimated costs associated with asset retirement obligations.

In accordance with the authoritative guidance for accounting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, the Company evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets, including property and equipment, in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying business whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss exists when estimated undiscounted cash flows attributable to an asset are less than its carrying amount. If an asset is deemed to be impaired, the amount of the impairment loss recognized represents the asset’s carrying value in excess of its estimated fair value, based on management’s assumptions and projections.

Management’s estimate of the future cash flows attributable to its long-lived assets and the fair value of its businesses involve significant uncertainty. Those estimates are based on management’s assumptions of future results, growth trends and industry conditions. If those estimates are not met, the Company could have additional impairment charges in the future, and the amounts may be material.

The Company did not record any fixed asset impairments for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

Goodwill is recognized in business combinations equal to the amount by which the cost of acquired net assets exceeded the fair value of those net assets on the date of acquisition. The Company allocates goodwill to reporting units at the time of acquisition and bases that allocation on which reporting units will benefit from the acquired assets and liabilities. Reporting units are defined as operating segments or one level below an operating segment, referred to as a component. The Company has determined that its reporting units are components of its multiple operating segments. The Company assesses goodwill for impairment on an annual basis in the fourth quarter or more frequently when events and circumstances occur indicating that the recorded goodwill may be impaired. The assessment begins with a qualitative analysis to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the reporting unit passes this analysis, the impairment assessment is complete and no impairment is recorded. If the reporting unit does not pass the analysis, or if a quantitative analysis is elected to be applied, the Company performs additional quantitative analysis by calculating the fair value of the reporting unit. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, the test is complete and no impairment is recorded. If the carrying value of the reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit an impairment charge is recorded equal to the excess, but not more than the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.

A significant majority of the Company’s telecommunications licenses are not amortized and are carried at their historical costs. The Company believes that telecommunications licenses generally have an indefinite life based on the historical ability to renew such licenses, that such renewals may be obtained indefinitely and at little cost, and that the related technology used is not expected to be replaced in the foreseeable future. The Company has elected to perform its annual testing of its telecommunications licenses in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, or more often if events or circumstances indicate that there may be impairment. The assessment begins with a qualitative analysis to determine whether it is more likely than not that the license fair value exceeds its carrying value. If the reporting unit passes this analysis, the impairment assessment is complete and no impairment is recorded. If the reporting unit does not pass the analysis, the Company performs additional quantitative analysis to calculate the fair value of the license. If the carrying value of the license exceeds the license fair value an impairment charge is recorded. As a part of the impairment test the Company assesses the appropriateness of the application of the indefinite-lived assertion. If the value of these assets were impaired by some factor, such as an adverse change in the subsidiary’s operating market, the Company may be required to record an impairment charge.

The Company performed its annual impairment assessment of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets (telecommunications licenses) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and no impairment were identified . See Note 7 for a discussion of the Company’s impairment of a portion of its goodwill within its International Telecom segment during the year ended December 31, 2021.

Other Intangible Assets

Intangible assets resulting from the acquisitions of entities accounted for using the purchase method of accounting are estimated by management based on the fair value of the assets acquired. These include acquired customer relationships and trade names. The process for estimating the fair values of identifiable intangible assets requires the use of significant estimates and assumptions by management, including revenue growth rates, customer attrition rates, royalty rates, discount rates and projected future cash flows.

Customer relationships and trade names are amortized over their estimated lives ranging from 5-13 years and 6-15 years, respectively, based on the pattern in which economic benefit of the customer relationship is estimated to be realized. The Company evaluates intangible assets subject to amortization annually for impairment.

Debt

Debt is measured at amortized cost. Debt issuance costs are recorded as a reduction to the carrying value of the debt and are amortized as interest expense in the consolidated income statements over the period of the debt. Except for interest costs incurred for the construction of a qualifying asset which are capitalized during the period the assets are prepared for their intended use, interest costs are expensed.

Noncontrolling Interests

The noncontrolling interests in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets reflect the original investments made by minority stockholders in certain subsidiaries of the Company. Noncontrolling interests acquired in a business combination are initially recorded at fair value. Subsequently, noncontrolling interests are adjusted for additional capital contributions, the minority stockholder’s proportional share of the earnings or losses, distributions to the minority stockholders and repurchases, by the Company, of such interests.

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), by component, were as follows (in thousands):


	Projected
	Pension and
	Postretirement Benefit		Translation
	Obligations		Adjustment		Other		Total

Balance at December 31, 2020	$	(570)	$	997	$	(149)	$	278
Unrecognized actuarial gain, net of tax of $(0.1) million		5,014		—		—		5,014
Foreign currency translation adjustment		—		(689)		—		(689)
Interest rate swap		—		—		170		170
Balance at December 31, 2021		4,444		308		21		4,773
Unrecognized actuarial gain, net of tax of $(0.2) million		2,428		—		—		2,428
Pension settlement, net of tax of $(0.8) million		915		—		—		915
Reclassification of foreign currency losses on investments sold, net of tax of $0.2 million		—		(500)		—		(500)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		—		(1,385)		—		(1,385)
Interest rate swap		—		—		(21)		(21)
Balance at December 31, 2022		7,787		(1,577)		—		6,210
Unrecognized actuarial gain, net of tax of $0		2,035		—		—		2,035
Pension settlement, net of tax of $(0.2) million		195		—		—		195
Reclassification of foreign currency losses on investments, net of tax of $0		—		1,348		—		1,348
Foreign currency translation adjustment		—		229		—		229
Interest rate swap, net of tax of $0.6 million		—		—		(1,749)		(1,749)
Balance at December 31, 2023	$	10,017	$	—	$	(1,749)	$	8,268

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income for pension and other postretirement benefits plans were $0.2 million, $0.9 million, and $(34) thousand for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. Additionally, $1.3 million and $(0.5) million was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income as a result of the foreign currency translation adjustments losses on assets sold during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Revenue Recognition

The Company earns revenue from its telecommunication operations. The Company recognizes revenue through the following steps:

Identification of the contract with a customer

Identification of the performance obligations in the contract

Determination of the transaction price

Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

Recognize revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies performance obligations

Revenue Recognition- Communications Services

Communication services consists of Mobility, Fixed, and Carrier Services revenue. Mobility revenue consists of revenue generated from providing mobile communication services to consumer and business subscribers over the Company’s wireless networks and the sale of related equipment to its subscribers. The service revenue generated is recognized over time as the service is rendered and revenues from equipment are recognized when the equipment is delivered to the customer.

Fixed Communications revenue is primarily generated by fixed data and voice telecommunications services to both business and consumer subscribers. The service includes consumer broadband and high speed data solutions for businesses, as well as video services. Revenue from these contracts is recognized over time as the service is rendered to the customer. Fixed revenue also includes revenue from government grants and is recognized in accordance with the grant terms and conditions.

For both Fixed and Mobility revenue contracts, management considers transactions where customers purchase subsidized or discounted equipment and services to be a single contract. For these contracts, the transaction price is allocated to the equipment and service based on their standalone selling prices. The standalone selling price is based on the amount the Company charges for the equipment and service to similar customers. Equipment revenue is recognized when the equipment is delivered to customers and service revenue is recognized as service is rendered.

Carrier Services revenue is generated from providing services to other telecommunications providers such as wholesale roaming, the leasing of critical network infrastructure such as tower and transport facilities, site maintenance, and international long-distance services. Revenue is recognized over time as the service is rendered to the customer.

In July 2019 the Company entered into a Network Build and Maintenance Agreement (the “FirstNet Agreement”) with AT&T Mobility, LLC (“AT&T”) to build a portion of AT&T’s network for the First Responder Network Authority (“FirstNet”) as well as a commercial wireless network in or near the Company’s current operating area in the western United States (the “FirstNet Transaction”). The FirstNet transaction includes construction and service performance obligations. The Company allocated the transaction price of the FirstNet Agreement to each performance obligation based on the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation in the contract. The standalone selling price is the estimated price the Company would charge for the good or service in a separate transaction with similar customers in similar circumstances. The construction revenue is recognized when the assets are delivered and the service revenue is recognized over time as the service is rendered to the customer. The current portion of receivables under this agreement is recorded in customer receivable and the long-term portion is recorded in customer receivable long-term on the Company’s balance sheet

In May 2023, the Company amended its current roaming agreement and entered into a carrier management services agreement with Verizon Wireless (“Verizon CMS Agreement”). The transaction includes service performance obligations under which revenue is recognized over time. The Company allocates the transaction price of these agreements to each performance obligation based on the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation in the contracts. The standalone selling price is the estimated price the Company would charge for the good or service in a separate transaction with similar customers in similar circumstances.

The Company’s Mobility, Carrier Services, and Fixed communications contracts occasionally include promotional discounts such as free service periods or discounted products. If a contract contains a substantive termination penalty, the transaction price is allocated to the performance obligations based on a standalone selling price resulting in accelerated revenue recognition and the establishment of a contract asset that will be recognized over the life of the contract. If a contract includes a promotional discount but no substantive termination penalty, the discount is recorded in the promotional period and no contract asset is established. The Company’s customers also have the option

to purchase additional telecommunication services. Generally, these options are not performance obligations and are excluded from the transaction price because they do not provide the customers with a material right.

The Company may charge upfront fees for activation and installation of some of its products and services. These fees are reviewed to determine if they represent a separate performance obligation. If they do not represent a separate performance obligation, the transaction price associated with them is recognized over the life of the customer. If the fees represent a performance obligation they are recognized when delivered to the customer based on the standalone selling price.

The Company has certain wholesale roaming agreements that contain stand ready performance obligations and management allocates transaction value to performance obligations based on the standalone selling price. The standalone selling price is the estimated price the Company would charge for the good or service with similar customers in similar circumstances. Management determined the performance obligations were obligations to make the service continuously available and will recognize revenue evenly over the service period.

The Company also enters into build and maintenance agreements with its customers. The agreements include construction and service performance obligations. The Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation based on the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation in the contract. The standalone selling price is the estimated price the Company would charge for the good or service in a separate transaction with similar customers in similar circumstances.

Sales and use and state excise taxes collected from customers that are remitted to the governmental authorities are reported on a net basis and excluded from the revenues and sales.

Revenue Recognition- Construction

Construction revenue is generated from construction services provided to telecommunications customers. The Company recognizes revenue at a point in time when the product is delivered to the customer.

Revenue Recognition-Other Revenue

Other revenue consists of Managed Services revenue. Managed services revenue is generated from information technology services such as network, application, infrastructure, and hosting services to both business and consumer customers. The revenue is recognized as the service is delivered to customers.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

The Company recognizes contract assets and liabilities on its balance sheet. Contract assets represent unbilled amounts typically resulting from consumer mobility contracts with both a multiyear service period and a promotional discount. In these contracts the revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed to the customer. The current portion of the contract asset is recorded in prepayments and other current assets and the noncurrent portion is included in other assets on the Company’s balance sheet.

Contract liabilities consist of advance payments and billings in excess of revenue recognized. Retail revenue for postpaid customers is generally billed one month in advance and recognized over the period that the corresponding service is rendered to customers. To the extent the service is not provided by the reporting date the amount is recognized as a contract liability. Prepaid service, including mobile voice and data services, sold to customers is recorded as deferred revenue prior to the commencement of services. The Company also records deferred revenue associated with prepaid service agreements to provide data capacity to customers. For these service agreements, a contract liability is established and recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the life of the agreement. The current portion of contract liabilities is recorded in advanced payments and deposits and the noncurrent portion is included in other liabilities on the Company’s balance sheets.

The Company acquired $92.7 million of contract liabilities in its acquisition of Alaska Communications. This balance is being amortized into revenue over the remaining life of the revenue contracts. At December 31, 2023, $68.7 million of this balance remains as a contract liability.

Contract Acquisition Costs

The Company pays sales commissions to its employees and agents for obtaining customer contracts. These costs are incremental because they would not have been incurred if the contract was not obtained. The Company recognizes an asset for these costs in Other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and subsequently amortizes the asset on a systematic basis consistent with the pattern of the transfer of the services to the customer. The amortization period, which is between 2 and 6 years, considers both the original contract period as well as anticipated contract renewals as appropriate. The amortization period also includes contract renewals when renewal commissions are not commensurate with new commissions. The Company estimates contract renewals based on its actual renewals in recent periods. When the expected amortization period is one year or less the Company utilizes the practical expedient and expenses the costs as incurred.

Leases

The Company determines if an agreement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, current portion of operating lease liabilities, and operating lease liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property and equipment in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

ROU assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The present value is calculated using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date, as the Company’s leases do not contain an implicit rate. The Company utilizes assumptions based on its existing borrowing facilities and other market specific data to determine its incremental borrowing rate. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms may include renewal options to extend the lease. The Company includes renewal options that are reasonably certain to be exercised in the initial lease term. When determining whether a renewal option is reasonably certain to be exercised, the Company considers several factors, including the present and anticipated future needs of its customers being serviced by the asset. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company does not separate non-lease components from lease components.

Operating Expenses

Cost of communication services and other. Cost of communication services and other are charges that the Company incurs for voice and data transport circuits (in particular, the circuits between its Mobility sites) and its switches, internet capacity, video programming costs, access fees it pays to terminate its calls, telecommunication spectrum fees and direct costs associated within its Managed Services business. Cost of communication services also include expenses associated with developing, operating, upgrading and supporting the Company’s telecommunications networks, including the salaries and benefits paid to employees directly involved in the development and operation of those businesses, as well as credit loss allowances and the cost of handsets and customer resale equipment incurred by its retail businesses.

Cost of construction revenue. Cost of constructions revenue include the expenses associated with constructing and making the FirstNet sites available for delivery to ATT.

Selling, general and administrative. Selling, general and administrative expenses include salaries and benefits we pay to sales personnel, customer service expenses and the costs associated with the development and implementation of our promotional and marketing campaigns. Selling, general and administrative expenses also include salaries, benefits and related costs for general corporate functions including executive management, finance and administration, legal and regulatory, facilities, information technology and human resources as well as internal costs associated with our performance of due-diligence and integration related costs associated with acquisition activities.

Transaction-related charges. Transaction-related charges include the costs, such as legal, tax, accounting and consulting fees directly associated with acquisition and disposition-related activities, which are expensed as incurred. Transaction-related charges also include certain internal personnel costs incurred as a result of the completion of the acquisition or disposition.

Restructuring expenses. In order to reduce the Company’s US Telecom and International Telecom segments’ cost structure to an optimal level needed to support the segment’s operations going forward, the Company incurred certain network termination and reduction in force costs totaling $11.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. A summary of the costs is below:


		US		International
		Telecom		Telecom		Total
Employee termination benefits	$	1,960	$	3,491	$	5,451
Contract termination costs		5,777		—		5,777
Total	$	7,737	$	3,491	$	11,228

The charge is recorded in Restructuring Expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Income Statements. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company paid $5.7 million, recorded a gain of $0.3 million on lease termination, and accrued $5.8 million of the restructuring expenses. In conjunction with the restructuring, the Company terminated $5.6 million of lease right of use assets and $5.9 million of lease liabilities from its balance sheet.

Depreciation and amortization expenses. Depreciation and amortization expenses represent the depreciation and amortization charges the Company records on its property and equipment and on certain intangible assets.

Amortization of intangibles from acquisitions. Amortization of intangibles from acquisitions include the amortization of customer relationships and trade names related to the Company’s completed acquisitions.

Goodwill impairment. The Company assesses goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently when events and circumstances occur indicating that the recorded goodwill may be impaired. If the carrying value of the reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit an impairment charge is recorded equal to the excess, but not more than the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.

(Gain) loss on disposition of assets and contingent consideration. The Company sells or disposes assets from time to time. A gain or loss is recorded by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to the proceeds received. The Company also records losses on assets held for sale if the expected sale price exceeds the carrying value of the assets. A gain or loss is also recorded on changes in the fair value of asset or liability classified contingent consideration from business combinations in the postcombination period.

Accounting for Grants

In 2021, the Company adopted Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance, which required entities to make specific annual disclosures about transactions with a government. The Company receives funding from the US Government and its agencies under stimulus, the Universal Service Fund (“USF”), the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, and other programs. These funding programs are generally designed to fund telecommunications operations and infrastructure expansion into rural or underserved areas. The funding programs are evaluated to determine if they represent funding related to revenue, capital expenditures or operating activities. Funding for revenue and operating activities are recorded as revenue or contra expense in the Company’s consolidated income statement as the services are provided. Funding for capital expenditures is recorded as a reduction to property, plant and equipment on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and a future reduction in depreciation expense in the consolidated income statements. Government funding related to revenue and operations are recorded as operating cash inflows and grants for capital expenditures are recorded as investing cash inflows.

The Company monitors government funding for grant requirements to ensure that conditions related to grants have been met and there is reasonable assurance that the Company will be able to retain the grant proceeds and to ensure that any contingencies that may arise from not meeting the conditions are appropriately recognized. See Note 9, Government Support and Spectrum Programs.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets to the extent that the Company believes these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If the Company determines that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, the Company would make an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

The Company records uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740 on the basis of a two-step process whereby (1) the Company determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related authority. It is possible that the ultimate resolution of these uncertain matters may be greater or less than the amount that the Company estimated. If payment of these amounts proves to be unnecessary, the reversal of the liabilities would result in tax benefits being recognized in the period in which it is determined that the liabilities are no longer necessary. If the estimate of tax liabilities proves to be more than the ultimate assessment, a further charge to expense would result.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax liability line in the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company does not provide for United States income taxes on earnings of foreign subsidiaries as such earnings are considered to be indefinitely reinvested.

Credit Concentrations and Significant Customers

Historically, the Company has been dependent on a limited number of customers for its wholesale roaming business. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, no individual customer accounted for more than 10% of consolidated revenue in that year.

For the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, no customers accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable. In addition, at December 31, 2023, the Company recorded $47.3 million of receivables under the FCC’s Replace and Remove Program.

Foreign Currency Gains and Losses

The Company translate the assets and liabilities of its foreign subsidiaries from their respective functional currencies, primarily the Guyana Dollar, to US dollars at the appropriate spot rates as of the balance sheet date. Changes in the carrying values of these assets and liabilities attributable to fluctuations in spot rates are recognized in foreign currency translation adjustment, a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Income statement accounts are translated using the monthly average exchange rates during the year.

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a currency that is different from a reporting entity’s functional currency must first be remeasured from the applicable currency to the legal entity’s functional currency. The effect of this remeasurement process is reported in other income on the income statement.

Employee Benefit Plans

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans

The Company sponsors pension and other postretirement benefit plans for employees of certain subsidiaries. Net periodic pension expense is recognized in the Company’s income statement. The service cost component of net periodic pension expense is presented with other employee compensation within income from operations. Other components of net periodic pension expense, such as interest cost, expected return on plan assets, and amortization of actuarial gains and losses are presented in other income. The Company recognizes a pension or other postretirement benefit plan’s funded status as either an asset or liability in its consolidated balance sheet. Actuarial gains and losses are deferred, reported as a component of other comprehensive income, and amortized through net periodic pension expense in subsequent periods.

Multi-employer Defined Benefit Plan

Certain of the Company’s employees in the US Telecom segment participate in a multi-employer defined pension plan. The Company pays and expenses a contractual hourly amount based on employee classification or base compensation. The accumulated benefits and plan assets are not determined for, or allocated separately to, individual employers.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

In accordance with the provisions of fair value accounting, a fair value measurement assumes that a transaction to sell an asset or transfer a liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability, and defines fair value based upon an exit price model.

The fair value measurement guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The guidance describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:


Level 1	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset and liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. Level 1 assets and liabilities include money market funds, debt and equity securities and derivative contracts that are traded in an active exchange market.
Level 2	Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 2 assets and liabilities include debt securities with quoted prices that are traded less frequently than exchange-traded instruments and derivative contracts whose value is determined using a pricing model with inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. This category generally includes corporate obligations and non-exchange traded derivative contracts.
Level 3	Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments and intangible assets that have been impaired whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

Assets and liabilities of the Company measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are summarized as follows:


	December 31, 2023
	Significant Other
	Quoted Prices in		Unobservable
	Active Markets		Inputs
Description	(Level 1)		(Level 3)		Total
Short term investments	$	300	$	—	$	300
Other investments		—		1,197		1,197
Employee benefit plan investments		3,014		—		3,014
Alaska Communications redeemable common units		—		(11,063)		(11,063)
Alloy redeemable common units		—		(14,760)		(14,760)
Warrants on Alaska Communications redeemable common units		—		(249)		(249)
Total assets and liabilities measured at fair value	$	3,314	$	(24,875)	$	(21,561)


	December 31, 2022
	Significant Other
	Quoted Prices in		Unobservable
	Active Markets		Inputs
Description	(Level 1)		(Level 3)		Total
Short term investments	$	300	$	—	$	300
Other investments		—		1,616		1,616
Alaska Communications redeemable common units		—		(22,557)		(22,557)
Alloy redeemable common units		—		(14,760)		(14,760)
Warrants on Alaska Communications redeemable common units		—		(654)		(654)
Total assets and liabilities measured at fair value	$	300	$	(36,355)	$	(36,055)

Money Market Funds

As of December 31, 2021, this asset class consisted of a money market portfolio that comprises Federal government and US Treasury securities. The asset class is classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because its underlying investments are valued using quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets.

Other Investments

The Company holds investments in equity securities consisting of noncontrolling investments in privately held companies. The investments are accounted for using equity method accounting, the measurement alternative for investments without a readily determinable fair value, or fair value. In the first quarter of 2021, the Company began to account for its former India solar operations under the equity method of accounting. The fair value investments are valued using level 3 inputs and the Company used the income approach to fair value the investment. The inputs consisted of a discount rate and future cash flows calculated based on the investment attributes. A roll forward of the investments is below:


	Investments Without a Readily Determinable Fair Value		Fair Value Investments		Equity Investments		Total
Balance, December 31, 2021	$	17,820	$	1,925	$	28,699	$	48,444
Sale of Investments(1)		—		—		(13,212)		(13,212)
Income (Loss) recognized		—		435		(2,234)		(1,799)
Contributions / (distributions)		—		(744)		2,750		2,006
Foreign currency loss		—		—		(2,040)		(2,040)
Gain recognized		4,770		—		—		4,770
Balance, December 31, 2022	$	22,590	$	1,616	$	13,963	$	38,169
Income (Loss) recognized		2,431		316		93		2,840
Contributions / (distributions)		425		(735)		630		320
Foreign currency loss		—		—		1,578		1,578
Transfers		16,264		—		(16,264)		—
Balance, December 31, 2023	$	41,710	$	1,197	$	-	$	42,907

(1)

During 2022, the Company sold an investment previously accounted for using the equity method for $15.7 million of cash. The investment had a book value of $13.2 and the Company recognized a gain of $2.5 million on the transaction.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company lost the ability to exert significant influence over its India solar investment. As a result, the Company transferred $16.3 million from equity method investments to investments without a readily determinable fair value and the accounting for the investment changed to the cost method from the equity method of accounting. Before transitioning to the cost method, the Company recorded income of $0.1 million and reclassified $1.3 million from accumulated other comprehensive income into income.

These investments are included with other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Employee benefit plan investments

The Company has deferred compensation arrangements available to covered employees. The obligations of the plans will be settled in cash and the assets are recorded in other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Redeemable Common Units and Warrants

The Company issued redeemable common units, and warrants to purchase additional common units, in a subsidiary of the Company in conjunction with its acquisition of Alaska Communications. The Company also issued redeemable common units in a subsidiary in conjunction with its acquisition of Sacred Wind. (Refer to Note 5). The instruments are redeemable at the option of the holder. Both the common units and warrants to purchase common units are recorded at fair value in the Company’s financial statements. The Sacred Wind put option begins in November 2026 and the Alaska Communications put options begin at the earlier of a qualifying initial public offering of Alaska

Communications or July 2028. The Company calculates the fair value of the instruments using a discounted cash flows and market approach with level 3 inputs.

Other Fair Value Disclosures

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values because of the relatively short-term maturities of these financial instruments. The fair value of the interest rate swap is measured using Level 2 inputs.

The fair value of long-term debt is estimated using Level 2 inputs. At December 31, 2023, the fair value of long-term debt, including the current portion, was $571.6 million and its book value was $562.9 million. At December 31, 2022, the fair value of long-term debt, including the current portion, was $473.7 million and its book value was $467.2 million.z

Net Loss Per Share

The following table reconciles the numerator and denominator in the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands):


	Year ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021
Numerator:
Net loss attributable to ATN International, Inc. stockholders- Basic		(14,538)		(5,645)		(22,108)
Less: Preferred dividends		(4,942)		(4,856)		(1,962)
Net Loss attributable to ATN International, Inc. common stockholders- Diluted	$	(19,480)	$	(10,501)	$	(24,070)

Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding- Basic		15,595		15,751		15,867
Weighted-average shares outstanding- Diluted		15,595		15,751		15,867

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

The redeemable noncontrolling interests in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets reflect common and preferred units issued in conjunction with the Company’s acquisition of Alaska Communication and common units issued in conjunction with the Company’s acquisition of Sacred Wind. (Refer to Note 5). Generally, the holders of these instruments have the ability to sell the instrument to a subsidiary of the Company in a future period. The common redeemable noncontrolling interests are recorded at the greater of historical cost or fair value. Historical cost is calculated as the original investment adjusted for subsequent capital contributions and distributions as well as the applicable share of earnings or losses. The fair value is calculated using a market approach and level 3 inputs. If the historical cost is more than the fair value at the end of the reporting period no adjustment is recorded, if the fair value is greater than the historical cost the value of the instrument is adjusted to the fair value with the offsetting amount recorded to retained earnings. The preferred redeemable noncontrolling interests are recorded at cost plus accrued dividends.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

Sacred Wind Enterprises

In connection with the Sacred Wind Transaction (see Note 5), the Company has accounted for equity consideration issued as redeemable noncontrolling interests in its consolidated financial statements. The redeemable noncontrolling interests consists of $14.8 million of redeemable common units. The common units contain a put option allowing the holder to sell the common units to a subsidiary of the Company at the then fair market value. The fair value of the common units is $14.8 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Alaska Communications

In connection with the Alaska Transaction (see Note 5), the Company has accounted for the Freedom 3 Investment as redeemable noncontrolling interests in its consolidated financial statements. The redeemable noncontrolling interests consists of redeemable common units and redeemable preferred units. The common units contain a put option allowing the holder to sell the common units to a subsidiary of the Company at the then fair market value. The put option begins at the earlier of a future initial public offering of the Alaska Communications operations or July 2028. The fair value of the common units was $11.1 million and $22.5 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The redeemable preferred equity carries a 9% preferred dividend which compounds quarterly. The

preferred units contain a put option allowing the holder to sell the preferred units to a subsidiary of the Company at the unpaid issuance price plus unpaid dividends. The put option begins at the earlier of a future initial public offering of the Alaska Communications operations or July 2028. The preferred units had a book value of $60.1 million and $55.2 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The preferred units book value includes an unpaid preferred dividend of $11.8 million and $6.8 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Lastly, the Company issued warrants in the Alaska Communications operations allowing the holders to purchase an additional 3% of the common units at a fixed price. The value of the warrants was $0.3 million and $0.7 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

For the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 the Company allocated losses of $11.0 million and $4.3 million, respectively, to the redeemable common units representing their proportionate share of operating losses. The Company then compared the book value of the common units to the fair value and the fair value exceeded the book value. As a result, the book value was decreased by $0.5 million and increased by $4.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The following table provides a roll forward of the activity related to the Company’s redeemable noncontrolling interests for year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:


	Redeemable Preferred Units		Redeemable Common Units		Total Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Balance, December 31, 2022	$	55,152	$	37,317	$	92,469
Accrued preferred dividend		4,942		—		4,942
Allocated net loss		—		(10,972)		(10,972)
Change in fair value		—		(522)		(522)
Balance, December 31, 2023	$	60,094	$	25,823	$	85,917


	Redeemable Preferred Units		Redeemable Common Units		Total Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Balance, December 31, 2021	$	50,296	$	22,640	$	72,936
Issuance of 591 common units		—		14,760		14,760
Accrued preferred dividend		4,856		—		4,856
Allocated net loss		—		(4,317)		(4,317)
Change in fair value		—		4,234		4,234
Balance, December 31, 2022	$	55,152	$	37,317	$	92,469

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company applies the fair value recognition provision of ASU 2018-07, “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718)” and is expensing the fair value of all stock-based compensation over the vesting periods of such awards within selling, general and administrative expenses in its Income Statement.

Business combinations

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, under which the purchase price of the acquisition is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using the fair values

determined by management as of the acquisition date. Contingent consideration obligations that are elements of the consideration transferred are recognized as of the acquisition date as part of the fair value transferred in exchange for the acquired business. Postcombination changes in the fair value of asset or liability classified contingent consideration are recorded in operating income. Acquisition-related costs incurred in connection with a business combination are expensed as incurred.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. The Company adopted ASU 2019-12 effective January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASC 2021-08, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers,” (ASU 2021-08). ASU 2021-08 provides guidance for recognizing and measuring contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination. Under the standard, revenue contracts are accounted for consistent with how they were recognized and measured in the acquiree’s financial statements. This is a change from previous standards which require contract asset and liabilities to be recognized at fair value. The Company prospectively adopted this standard in the fourth quarter of 2021 and will apply it to all acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2021 and thereafter. The adoption will generally result in the Company recognizing larger contract liabilities in business combinations. Refer to Note 5.

In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-10, Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance, which required entities to make specific annual disclosures about transactions with a government. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company adopted the standard in the fourth quarter of 2021 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s disclosures. Going forward the Company will evaluate the disclosure requirements based on its participation in government programs.

In December 2023, the FASB released ASU 2023-09, titled "Enhancements to Income Tax Disclosures," with the aim of improving the clarity and usefulness of income tax disclosures. The update focuses primarily on enhancing disclosures related to rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 becomes effective for annual reporting periods starting after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. While the changes prescribed by ASU 2023-09 are implemented prospectively, retrospective application is also allowed. The Company has chosen not to early adopt this standard and is currently assessing its potential impact on our consolidated financial statements and accompanying disclosures.