U.S. Cellular - United States Cellular Corporation

11/01/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/01/2024 05:49

Quarterly Report for Quarter Ending September 30, 2024 (Form 10-Q)

usm-20240930
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 001-09712
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
62-1147325
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
8410 West Bryn Mawr, Chicago, Illinois60631
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (773)399-8900
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Trading Symbol Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Shares, $1 par value USM New York Stock Exchange
6.25% Senior Notes due 2069 UZD New York Stock Exchange
5.50% Senior Notes due 2070 UZE New York Stock Exchange
5.50% Senior Notes due 2070 UZF New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
☒
No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes
☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
☐
Accelerated filer
☒
Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company
☐
Emerging growth company
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
☐
No
☒
The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of September 30, 2024, is 53 million Common Shares, $1 par value, and 33 million Series A Common Shares, $1 par value.
United States Cellular Corporation
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
For the Period Ended September 30, 2024
Index
Page No.
Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
1
Executive Overview
1
Terms Used by UScellular
4
Financial Overview - UScellular
5
Wireless Operations
7
Towers Operations
11
Liquidity and Capital Resources
13
Consolidated Cash Flow Analysis
16
Consolidated Balance Sheet Analysis
17
Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
18
Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
21
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Safe Harbor Cautionary Statement
22
Risk Factors
25
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
27
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
28
Consolidated Statement of Operations
28
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
29
Consolidated Balance Sheet
30
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
32
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
36
Controls and Procedures
49
Legal Proceedings
49
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
50
Other Information
50
Exhibits
51
Form 10-Q Cross Reference Index
52
Signatures
53
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United States Cellular Corporation
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Executive Overview
The following discussion and analysis compares United States Cellular Corporation's (UScellular) financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. It should be read in conjunction with UScellular's interim consolidated financial statements and notes included herein, and with the description of UScellular's business, its audited consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) included in UScellular's Annual Report on Form 10-K (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2023. Certain numbers included herein are rounded to millions for ease of presentation; however, certain calculated amounts and percentages are determined using the unrounded numbers.
During the second quarter of 2024, UScellular modified its reporting structure due to the planned disposal of its wireless operations and, as a result, disaggregated its operations into two reportable segments - Wireless and Towers. This presentation reflects how UScellular's chief operating decision maker allocates resources and evaluates operating performance following this strategic shift. Prior periods have been updated to conform to the new reportable segments. See Note 13 - Business Segment Information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
This report contains statements that are not based on historical facts, which may be identified by words such as "believes," "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "projects," "will" and similar expressions. These statements constitute and represent "forward looking statements" as this term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be significantly different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. See the disclosure under the heading Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Safe Harbor Cautionary Statement elsewhere in this report for additional information.
The accounting policies of UScellular conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). However, UScellular uses certain "non-GAAP financial measures" in the MD&A and the business segment information. A discussion of the reasons UScellular determines these metrics to be useful and reconciliations of these measures to their most directly comparable measures determined in accordance with GAAP are included in the disclosure under the heading Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures within the MD&A of this report.
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General
UScellular provides wireless service throughout its footprint, and leases tower space to third-party carriers on UScellular-owned towers.UScellular is an 83%-owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS).
OPERATIONS
▪Serves customers with 4.5 million retail connections including 4.0 million postpaid and 0.5 million prepaid connections
▪Operates in 21 states
▪Employs approximately 4,200 associates
▪Owns 4,407 towers
▪Operates 7,007 cell sites in service
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UScellular Mission and Strategy
UScellular's mission is to connect its customers to what matters most to them. This includes providing exceptional wireless communication services which enhance consumers' lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses, and improve the efficiency of government operations in the markets UScellular serves.
UScellular's strategy is to attract and retain customers by providing a high-quality network, outstanding customer service, and competitive devices, plans and pricing - all provided with a local community focus. Strategic efforts include:
▪UScellular offers economical and competitively priced service plans and devices to its customers and is focused on increasing revenues from sales of related products such as device protection plans and from services such as fixed wireless home internet. In addition, UScellular is focused on expanding its solutions available to business and government customers.
▪UScellular continues to enhance its network capabilities, including by deploying 5G technology to help address customers' growing demand for data services and create opportunities for new services requiring high speed and reliability as well as low latency. In 2019-2023, UScellular focused on 5G coverage and predominantly used low-band spectrum to launch 5G services in portions of substantially all of its markets. During 2023 and 2024, UScellular has focused on deploying 5G over its mid-band spectrum, largely overlapping areas already covered with low-band 5G service to enhance speed and capacity for UScellular's mobility and fixed wireless services. Investments in the next several years are expected to be focused on continued mid-band spectrum deployment to enhance speed and capacity needs, building on the existing 5G coverage across UScellular's footprint.
▪UScellular seeks to grow revenue in its Towers segment primarily through increasing third-party colocations on existing towers through providing unique tower locations, attractive terms and streamlined implementation to third-party wireless operators.
Announced Transactions and Strategic Alternatives Review
On August 4, 2023, TDS and UScellular announced that the Boards of Directors of both companies decided to initiate a process to explore a range of strategic alternatives for UScellular. On May 28, 2024, UScellular announced that its Board of Directors unanimously approved the execution of a Securities Purchase Agreement (Securities Purchase Agreement) by and among TDS, UScellular, T-Mobile US, Inc. (T-Mobile) and USCC Wireless Holdings, LLC, pursuant to which, among other things, UScellular agreed to sell its wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile for a purchase price, subject to adjustment as specified in the Securities Purchase Agreement, of $4,400 million, which is payable in a combination of cash and the assumption of up to approximately $2,000 million in debt. The Securities Purchase Agreement also contemplates, among other things, a Short-Term Spectrum Manager Lease Agreement that will become effective at the closing date, which provides T-Mobile with an exclusive license to use certain UScellular spectrum assets at no cost for up to one-year for the purpose of providing continued, uninterrupted service to customers. The transactions are expected to close in mid-2025, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
On October 17, 2024, UScellular, and certain subsidiaries of UScellular, entered into a License Purchase Agreement (Verizon Purchase Agreement) with Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon) to sell certain AWS, Cellular and PCS wireless spectrum licenses and agreed to grant Verizon certain rights to lease such licenses prior to the transaction close for total proceeds of $1,000 million. As of September 30, 2024, the book value of the wireless spectrum licenses to be sold was $586 million. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, and is contingent on the closing of the T-Mobile transaction and the termination of the T-Mobile Short-Term Spectrum Manager Lease Agreement.
The strategic alternatives review process is ongoing as UScellular seeks to opportunistically monetize its spectrum assets that are not subject to the Securities Purchase Agreement or the Verizon Purchase Agreement.
UScellular incurred third-party expenses related to the announced transactions and strategic alternatives review of $7 million and $28 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and $3 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Significant Financial Matter
Net loss attributable to UScellular shareholders was $79 million and $44 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Such net losses include a non-cash charge related to the impairment of certain wireless spectrum licenses in the amount of $136 million ($102 million, net of tax impacts), which was recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2024. The conclusion that this impairment was required was made in connection with the review and preparation of the September 30, 2024 financial statements. See Note 8 - Intangible Assets for a detailed discussion regarding this impairment. Refer to Supplemental Information to Non-GAAP Financial Measures within this MD&A for a reconciliation of the wireless spectrum license impairment, net of tax.
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Terms Used by UScellular
The following is a list of definitions of certain industry terms that are used throughout this document:
▪5G- fifth generation wireless technology that helps address customers' growing demand for data services and creates opportunities for new services requiring high speed and reliability as well as low latency.
▪Account- represents an individual or business financially responsible for one or multiple associated connections. An account may include a variety of types of connections such as handsets and connected devices.
▪Churn Rate- represents the percentage of the connections that disconnect service each month. These rates represent the average monthly churn rate for each respective period.
▪Colocations - represents instances where a third-party wireless carrier rents or leases space on a company-owned tower.
▪Connected Devices- non-handset devices that connect directly to the UScellular network. Connected devices include products such as tablets, wearables, modems, fixed wireless, and hotspots.
▪EBITDA- refers to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion and is used in the non-GAAP metric Adjusted EBITDA throughout this document. See Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures within this MD&A for additional information.
▪Free Cash Flow- non-GAAP metric defined as Cash flows from operating activities less Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment and less Cash paid for software license agreements. See Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures within this MD&A for additional information.
▪Gross Additions- represents the total number of new connections added during the period, without regard to connections that were terminated during that period.
▪Net Additions (Losses)- represents the total number of new connections added during the period, net of connections that were terminated during that period.
▪OIBDA- refers to operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion and is used in the non-GAAP metric Adjusted OIBDA throughout this document. See Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures within this MD&A for additional information.
▪Postpaid Average Revenue per Account (Postpaid ARPA)- metric which is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period.
▪Postpaid Average Revenue per User (Postpaid ARPU)- metric which is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues by the average number of postpaid connections and by the number of months in the period.
▪Retail Connections- individual lines of service associated with each device activated by a postpaid or prepaid customer. Connections are associated with all types of devices that connect directly to the UScellular network.
▪Tower Tenancy Rate - average number of tenants that lease space on company-owned towers, measured on a per-tower basis.
▪Universal Service Fund (USF)- a system of telecommunications collected fees and support payments managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) intended to promote universal access to telecommunications services in the United States.
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Financial Overview - UScellular
The following discussion and analysis compares financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Three Months Ended
September 30, 		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023 2024 vs. 2023 2024 2023 2024 vs. 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Operating Revenues
Wireless $ 896 $ 938 (4) % $ 2,722 $ 2,831 (4) %
Towers 59 57 2 % 175 170 3 %
Intra-company eliminations (33) (32) (3) % (98) (95) (3) %
Total operating revenues 922 963 (4) % 2,799 2,906 (4) %
Operating expenses
Wireless 1,005 900 12 % 2,784 2,770 1 %
Towers 40 38 4 % 116 114 1 %
Intra-company eliminations (33) (32) (3) % (98) (95) (3) %
Total operating expenses 1,012 906 12 % 2,802 2,789 -
Operating income (loss) (90) 57 N/M (3) 117 N/M
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities 43 40 9 % 123 121 2 %
Interest and dividend income 4 3 28 % 9 8 17 %
Interest expense (49) (50) 2 % (137) (147) 6 %
Total investment and other expense (2) (7) 80 % (5) (18) 68 %
Income (loss) before income taxes (92) 50 N/M (8) 99 N/M
Income tax expense (benefit) (14) 27 N/M 29 56 (50) %
Net income (loss) (78) 23 N/M (37) 43 N/M
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax 1 - (19) % 7 3 N/M
Net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders $ (79) $ 23 N/M $ (44) $ 40 N/M
Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)1
$ 222 $ 220 1 % $ 678 $ 624 9 %
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1
$ 269 $ 263 3 % $ 810 $ 753 8 %
Capital expenditures2
$ 120 $ 111 8 % $ 415 $ 462 (10) %
N/M - Percentage change not meaningful
1Refer to Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures within this MD&A for a reconciliation of this measure.
2Refer to Liquidity and Capital Resources within this MD&A for additional information on Capital expenditures.
Refer to individual segment discussions in this MD&A for additional details on operating revenues and expenses at the segment level.
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Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities represents UScellular's share of net income from entities in which it has a noncontrolling interest and that are accounted for using the equity method or the net asset value practical expedient. UScellular's investment in the Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership (LA Partnership) contributed pre-tax income of $16 million and $14 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively and $48 million and $52 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. See Note 9 - Investments in Unconsolidated Entities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Interest expense
Interest expense decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 due primarily to a decrease in the average principal balance outstanding on the receivables securitization agreement. See Market Risk for additional information regarding maturities of long-term debt and weighted average interest rates.
Income tax expense
Income tax expense decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, due primarily to the deferred tax benefit on the impairment of certain wireless spectrum licenses recorded in the third quarter of 2024.
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Wireless Operations
As of September 30, 2024 2023
Retail Connections - End of Period
Postpaid 3,999,000 4,159,000
Prepaid 452,000 462,000
Total 4,451,000 4,621,000
Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Q3 2024 vs. Q3 2023 YTD 2024 YTD 2023 YTD 2024 vs. YTD 2023
Postpaid Activity and Churn
Gross Additions
Handsets 84,000 84,000 - 220,000 260,000 (15) %
Connected Devices 39,000 44,000 (11) % 126,000 129,000 (2) %
Total Gross Additions 123,000 128,000 (4) % 346,000 389,000 (11) %
Net Additions (Losses)
Handsets (28,000) (38,000) 26 % (104,000) (92,000) (13) %
Connected Devices - 3,000 N/M 9,000 4,000 N/M
Total Net Additions (Losses) (28,000) (35,000) 20 % (95,000) (88,000) (8) %
Churn
Handsets 1.07 % 1.11 % 1.02 % 1.06 %
Connected Devices 2.47 % 2.64 % 2.49 % 2.69 %
Total Churn 1.25 % 1.30 % 1.21 % 1.26 %
N/M - Percentage change not meaningful
Total postpaid handset net losses decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the same period last year due primarily to lower defections as a result of improvements in churn.
Total postpaid handset net losses increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 when compared to the same period last year due to lower gross additions as a result of a decrease in the pool of available customers and continued aggressive industry-wide competition. This was partially offset by lower defections as a result of improvements in churn.
Total postpaid connected device net additions decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the same period last year due to lower demand for home internet and connected watches. This was offset by a decrease in tablet churn.
Total postpaid connected device net additions increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the same period last year due to a decrease in tablet, hotspot and home phone defections as a result of improvements in churn.
Postpaid Revenue
Three Months Ended
September 30, 		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023 2024 vs. 2023 2024 2023 2024 vs. 2023
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)
$ 52.04 $ 51.11 2 % $ 51.81 $ 50.81 2 %
Average Revenue Per Account (ARPA)
$ 131.81 $ 130.91 1 % $ 131.39 $ 130.64 1 %
Postpaid ARPU and ARPA increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the same period last year, due to an increase in favorable plan and product offering mix and cost recovery surcharges.
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Financial Overview - Wireless
The following discussion and analysis compares financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Three Months Ended
September 30, 		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023 2024 vs. 2023 2024 2023 2024 vs. 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Retail service $ 669 $ 687 (3) % $ 2,014 $ 2,065 (2) %
Other 52 50 5 % 154 149 4 %
Service revenues 721 737 (2) % 2,168 2,214 (2) %
Equipment sales 175 201 (13) % 554 617 (10) %
Total operating revenues 896 938 (4) % 2,722 2,831 (4) %
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 193 199 (3) % 582 597 (2) %
Cost of equipment sold 203 228 (11) % 630 708 (11) %
Selling, general and administrative 316 324 (3) % 953 995 (4) %
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 155 148 5 % 466 456 2 %
Loss on impairment of licenses 136 - N/M 136 - N/M
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 4 1 N/M 13 14 (1) %
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (2) - N/M 4 - N/M
Total operating expenses 1,005 900 12 % 2,784 2,770 1 %
Operating income (loss) $ (109) $ 38 N/M $ (62) $ 61 N/M
Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)1
$ 191 $ 190 1 % $ 583 $ 534 9 %
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1
$ 191 $ 190 1 % $ 583 $ 534 9 %
Capital expenditures2
$ 114 $ 106 7 % $ 400 $ 452 (12) %
N/M - Percentage change not meaningful
1Refer to Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures within this MD&A for a reconciliation of this measure.
2Refer to Liquidity and Capital Resources within this MD&A for additional information on Capital expenditures.
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Operating Revenues
Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Operating Revenues
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Service revenues consist of:
▪Retail Service - Postpaid and prepaid charges for voice, data and value-added services and cost recovery surcharges
▪Other Service - Amounts received from the Federal USF, inbound roaming, miscellaneous other service revenues and Internet of Things (IoT)
Equipment revenues consist of:
▪Sales of wireless devices and related accessories to new and existing customers, agents, and third-party distributors
Key components of changes in the statement of operations line items were as follows:
Total operating revenues
Retail service revenues decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, primarily as a result of a decrease in average postpaid and prepaid connections, partially offset by an increase in Postpaid ARPU as previously discussed in the Operational Overview section.
Equipment sales revenues decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2024, due primarily to a decline in smartphone devices sold due to lower upgrades.
Equipment sales revenues decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, due primarily to a decline in smartphone devices sold due to lower upgrades and gross additions, partially offset by a higher average price of new smartphone sales.
Wireless service providers have been aggressive promotionally and on price to attract and retain customers. This includes both traditional carriers and cable wireless companies. UScellular expects promotional aggressiveness by traditional carriers to continue and pricing pressures from cable wireless companies and new entrants to increase into the foreseeable future. Additionally, other wireless service providers have more developed networks and coverage as well as lower costs per subscriber than UScellular, which has negatively affected and may continue to negatively affect UScellular's ability to compete over time. Operating revenues and Operating income (loss) have been negatively impacted by these factors in current and prior periods, and are expected to be negatively impacted in future periods.
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Total operating expenses
Total operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 include $9 million of severance and related expenses associated with a reduction in workforce that was recorded in the first quarter of 2023. These severance expenses are included in System operations expenses and Selling, general and administrative expenses.
System operations expenses
System operations expenses decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, due primarily to a decrease in expenses driven by the shutdown of the 3G Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network in the first quarter of 2024, partially offset by increases in outbound roaming usage and maintenance, utilities, and cell site expenses.
Cost of equipment sold
Cost of equipment sold decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2024, due primarily to a decline in smartphone devices sold due to lower upgrades.
Cost of equipment sold decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, due primarily to a decline in smartphone devices sold due to lower upgrades and gross additions, partially offset by a higher average price of new smartphone sales.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, due to decreases in various general and administrative expenses, sales related expenses and bad debts expense, partially offset by an increase related to the strategic alternatives review expenses of $4 million and $23 million, respectively.
Loss on impairment of licenses
Loss on impairment of licenses increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, due to the impairment of certain wireless spectrum licenses recorded during the third quarter of 2024. See Note 8 - Intangible Assets for a detailed discussion regarding this impairment.
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Towers Operations
As of September 30, 2024 2023 2024 vs. 2023
Owned towers 4,407 4,356 1 %
Number of colocations 2,418 2,406 -
Tower tenancy rate 1.55 1.55 -
Number of colocations
Number of colocations increased for the period ended September 30, 2024 when compared to the same period last year due to an increase in new tenant and equipment change executions partially offset by terminations.
Financial Overview - Towers
The following discussion and analysis compares financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Three Months Ended
September 30, 		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023 2024 vs. 2023 2024 2023 2024 vs. 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Third-party revenues $ 26 $ 25 1 % $ 77 $ 75 2 %
Intra-company revenues 33 32 3 % 98 95 3 %
Total tower revenues 59 57 2 % 175 170 3 %
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 20 18 10 % 58 55 4 %
Selling, general and administrative 8 9 (14) % 24 25 (7) %
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 12 11 7 % 33 34 (1) %
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net - - N/M 1 - N/M
Total operating expenses 40 38 4 % 116 114 1 %
Operating income $ 19 $ 19 (1) % $ 59 $ 56 7 %
Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)1
$ 31 $ 30 3 % $ 95 $ 90 6 %
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1
$ 31 $ 30 3 % $ 95 $ 90 6 %
Capital expenditures $ 6 $ 5 33 % $ 15 $ 10 61 %
N/M - Percentage change not meaningful
1Refer to Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures within this MD&A for a reconciliation of this measure.
Key components of changes in the statement of operations line items were as follows:
Intra-company revenues
Intra-company revenues increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, primarily as a result of an increase in the intra-company rate charged by Towers to Wireless and an increase in the number of owned towers.
Upon closing of the transaction to dispose of the wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile, UScellular expects an increase in Third-party revenues that will be recognized under the Master License Agreement that will go into effect under the Securities Purchase Agreement. However, at such time Intra-company revenues would cease, resulting in significantly lower Total tower revenues in periods following the close.
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Total operating expenses
Total operating expenses increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 due primarily to increases in System operations expenses as a result of increases in cell site ground rent and maintenance expenses.
Upon closing of the transaction to dispose of the wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile, UScellular expects expenses may be incurred to effect the separation including costs to decommission certain towers and record remaining ground lease obligations on such decommissioned towers. These factors and other uncertainties in how the ongoing tower operations will be supported in the long-term may significantly impact operating expenses recorded in periods following the close.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
UScellular operates a capital-intensive business. In the past, UScellular's existing cash and investment balances, funds available under its financing agreements, and cash flows from operating and certain investing and financing activities, including sales of assets or businesses, provided sufficient liquidity and financial flexibility for UScellular to meet its day-to-day operating needs and debt service requirements, to finance the build-out and enhancement of markets and to fund wireless spectrum license acquisitions. There is no assurance that this will be the case in the future. UScellular has incurred negative free cash flow at times in past periods, and this could occur in future periods.
UScellular believes that existing cash and investment balances, funds available under its financing agreements, its ability to obtain future external financing, potential dispositions and expected cash flows from operating and investing activities will provide sufficient liquidity for UScellular to meet its day-to-day operating needs and debt service requirements. UScellular may require substantial additional funding for, among other uses, capital expenditures, agreements to purchase goods or services, leases, repurchases of shares, or making additional investments. It may be necessary from time to time to increase the size of its existing credit facilities, to amend existing or put in place new credit agreements, to obtain other forms of financing, issue equity securities, or to divest assets in order to fund potential expenditures. UScellular will continue to monitor the rapidly changing business and market conditions and is taking and intends to take appropriate actions, as necessary, to meet its liquidity needs. Due to its smaller scale, UScellular has higher costs per subscriber than its competitors and is balancing the timing of investments, such as its 5G deployment, with liquidity considerations.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash and money market investments. The primary objective of UScellular's Cash and cash equivalents investment activities is to preserve principal.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
(Dollars in millions)
The majority of UScellular's Cash and cash equivalents are held in bank deposit accounts and in money market funds that purchase only debt issued by the U.S. Treasury or U.S. government agencies. Refer to the Consolidated Cash Flow Analysis for additional information related to changes in Cash and cash equivalents.
In addition to Cash and cash equivalents, UScellular had available undrawn borrowing capacity from the following debt facilities at September 30, 2024. See the Financing section below for further details.
(Dollars in millions)
Revolving Credit Agreement $ 300
Receivables Securitization Agreement 448
Total available undrawn borrowing capacity $ 748
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Financing
Receivables Securitization Agreement
UScellular, through its subsidiaries, has a receivables securitization agreement that permits securitized borrowings using its equipment installment plan receivables. Amounts under the agreement may be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed from time to time until September 2025. Unless the agreement is amended to extend the maturity date, repayments based on receivable collections commence in October 2025. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, UScellular borrowed $40 million and repaid $188 million under the agreement. As of September 30, 2024, the outstanding borrowings under the agreement were $2 million and the unused borrowing capacity was $448 million, subject to sufficient collateral to satisfy the asset borrowing base provisions of the agreement.
Term Loan Agreements
In October 2024, UScellular repaid $40 million under its term loan agreement due July 2026.
Debt Covenants
The revolving credit agreement, term loan agreements, export credit financing agreement and receivables securitization agreement require UScellular to comply with certain affirmative and negative covenants, which include certain financial covenants that may restrict the borrowing capacity available. UScellular is required to maintain the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter at a level not to exceed the following: 4.00 to 1.00 from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025; 3.75 to 1.00 from April 1, 2025 and thereafter. UScellular is also required to maintain the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio at a level not lower than 3.00 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. UScellular believes that it was in compliance as of September 30, 2024 with all such financial covenants.
Other Long-Term Financing
UScellular has an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 to issue senior or subordinated debt securities, preferred shares and depositary shares.
See Note 11 - Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to the financing agreements.
Credit Ratings
Following the execution of the Securities Purchase Agreement in May 2024, Moody's placed UScellular's issuer credit rating on a review for downgrade. There was no change to the Ba1 rating issued by Moody's in October 2023. At the same time, Fitch Ratings placed UScellular's issuer credit rating on rating watch negative. There was no change to the BB+ rating issued by Fitch Ratings in October 2023. There was no change to the Standard & Poor's credit rating or outlook.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures (i.e., additions to property, plant and equipment and system development expenditures; excludes wireless spectrum license additions), which include the effects of accruals and capitalized interest, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, were as follows:
Capital Expenditures
(Dollars in millions)
Capital expenditures for the full year 2024 are expected to be between $550 million and $600 million. These expenditures are expected to be used principally for the following purposes:
▪Continued deployment of 5G with a focus on network deployment that uses mid-band spectrum to provide additional speed and capacity to accommodate increased data usage by current customers; and
▪Invest in information technology to support existing and new services and products.
UScellular intends to finance its capital expenditures for 2024 using primarily Cash flows from operating activities, existing cash balances and, as required, additional debt financing from its existing agreements and/or other forms of available financing.
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Divestitures
See Note 7 - Divestitures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to divestitures.
Other Obligations
UScellular will require capital for future spending on existing contractual obligations, including long-term debt obligations; lease commitments; commitments for device purchases, network facilities and transport services; agreements for software licensing; long-term marketing programs; and other agreements to purchase goods or services.
Variable Interest Entities
UScellular consolidates certain "variable interest entities" as defined under GAAP. See Note 12 - Variable Interest Entities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to these variable interest entities. UScellular may elect to make additional capital contributions and/or advances to these variable interest entities in future periods to fund their operations.
Common Share Repurchase Program
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, UScellular repurchased 474,074 Common Shares for $26 million at an average cost per share of $54.94. As of September 30, 2024, the total cumulative amount of UScellular Common Shares authorized to be repurchased is 1,452,867. For additional information related to the current repurchase authorization, see Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
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Consolidated Cash Flow Analysis
UScellular operates a capital-intensive business. UScellular makes substantial investments to acquire wireless spectrum licenses and to construct and upgrade wireless telecommunications networks and facilities with a goal of creating long-term value for shareholders. In recent years, rapid changes in technology and new opportunities have required substantial investments in potentially revenue-enhancing and cost-saving upgrades to UScellular's networks. Revenues from certain of these investments are long-term and in some cases are uncertain. To meet its cash-flow needs, UScellular may need to delay or reduce certain investments or sell assets. Refer to Liquidity and Capital Resources within this MD&A and Note 7 - Divestitures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. Cash flows may fluctuate from quarter to quarter and year to year due to seasonality, timing and other factors. The following discussion summarizes UScellular's cash flow activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.
2024 Commentary
UScellular's Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash increased $109 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $761 million due to net loss of $37 million adjusted for non-cash items of $600 million, distributions received from unconsolidated entities of $106 million, including $37 million in distributions from the LA Partnership, and changes in working capital items which increased net cash by $92 million. The working capital changes were primarily driven by reduced receivable and inventory balances and the timing of future tax payments, partially offset by payments of associate bonuses and agent rebates and commissions.
Cash flows used for investing activities were $415 million, due primarily to payments for property, plant and equipment of $399 million.
Cash flows used for financing activities were $237 million, due primarily to $188 million in repayments on the receivables securitization agreement, cash paid for software license agreements of $31 million and the repurchase of $26 million Common Shares, partially offset by a borrowing of $40 million on the receivables securitization agreement.
2023 Commentary
UScellular's Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash decreased $123 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $719 million due to net income of $43 million adjusted for non-cash items of $514 million, distributions received from unconsolidated entities of $97 million, including $37 million in distributions from the LA Partnership, and changes in working capital items which increased net cash by $65 million. The working capital changes were primarily driven by reduced inventory and receivable balances, partially offset by timing of vendor payments and payment of associate bonuses.
Cash flows used for investing activities were $464 million, due primarily to payments for property, plant and equipment of $454 million.
Cash flows used for financing activities were $378 million, due primarily to repayments of $385 million on the receivables securitization agreement, a $60 million repayment on the EIP receivables repurchase agreement and cash paid for software license agreements of $28 million, partially offset by $115 million borrowed under the receivables securitization agreement.
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Consolidated Balance Sheet Analysis
The following discussion addresses certain captions in the consolidated balance sheet and changes therein. This discussion is intended to highlight the significant changes and is not intended to fully reconcile the changes. Notable balance sheet changes during 2024 were as follows:
Inventory, net
Inventory, net decreased $38 million due primarily to the sell through of inventory on hand which was elevated at the end of 2023 to support holiday promotions and ensure adequate device supply.
Property, plant and equipment
The gross basis of Property, plant and equipment as well as the related Accumulated depreciation and amortization, decreased by $1,158 million and $1,086 million, respectively, due primarily to the decommissioning of fully depreciated assets no longer in service related to the CDMA network shutdown.
Accrued taxes
Accrued taxes increased $31 million due primarily to an increase in federal tax liability, as UScellular projects taxable income in 2024 to exceed its available federal net operating loss carryforward from previous years.
Other current liabilities
Other current liabilities decreased $30 million due primarily to decreases in agent rebate and commission liabilities as a result of lower sales volume and payments of Auction 107 relocation fees.
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Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
UScellular sometimes uses information derived from consolidated financial information but not presented in its financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP to evaluate the performance of its business. Specifically, UScellular has referred to the following measures in this report:
▪EBITDA
▪Adjusted EBITDA
▪Adjusted OIBDA
▪Free cash flow
▪Licenses impairment, net of tax
These measures are considered "non-GAAP financial measures" under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Rules. Following are explanations of each of these measures.
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are defined as Net income (loss) adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation below. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to Net income (loss) or Cash flows from operating activities, as indicators of cash flows or as measures of liquidity. UScellular does not intend to imply that any such items set forth in the reconciliation below are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual; such items may occur in the future.
Adjusted EBITDA is a segment measure reported to the chief operating decision maker for purposes of assessing the segments' performance. See Note 13 - Business Segment Information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA as measurements of profitability, and therefore reconciliations to applicable GAAP income measures are deemed appropriate. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are useful measures of UScellular's operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, nonrecurring expenses, gains and losses, and other items as presented below as they provide additional relevant and useful information to investors and other users of UScellular's financial data in evaluating the effectiveness of its operations and underlying business trends in a manner that is consistent with management's evaluation of business performance. Adjusted EBITDA shows adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, gains and losses, and expenses related to the strategic alternatives review of UScellular, while Adjusted OIBDA reduces this measure further to exclude Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities and Interest and dividend income in order to more effectively show the performance of operating activities excluding investment activities. The following tables reconcile EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA to the corresponding GAAP measures, Net income (loss) and/or Operating income (loss). Income and expense items below Operating income (loss) are not provided at the individual segment level for Wireless and Towers; therefore, the reconciliations begin with EBITDA and the most directly comparable GAAP measure is Operating income (loss) rather than Net income (loss) at the segment level.
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Three Months Ended
September 30, 		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
UScellular 2024 2023 2024 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Net income (loss) (GAAP) $ (78) $ 23 $ (37) $ 43
Add back:
Income tax expense (benefit) (14) 27 29 56
Interest expense 49 50 137 147
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 167 159 499 490
EBITDA (Non-GAAP) 124 259 628 736
Add back or deduct:
Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 7 3 28 3
Loss on impairment of licenses 136 - 136 -
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 4 1 14 14
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (2) - 4 -
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) 269 263 810 753
Deduct:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities 43 40 123 121
Interest and dividend income 4 3 9 8
Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) 222 220 678 624
Deduct:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 167 159 499 490
Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 7 3 28 3
Loss on impairment of licenses 136 - 136 -
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 4 1 14 14
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (2) - 4 -
Operating income (loss) (GAAP) $ (90) $ 57 $ (3) $ 117
Three Months Ended
September 30, 		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
UScellular Wireless 2024 2023 2024 2023
(Dollars in millions)
EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 46 $ 186 $ 404 $ 517
Add back or deduct:
Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 7 3 26 3
Loss on impairment of licenses 136 - 136 -
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 4 1 13 14
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (2) - 4 -
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) 191 190 583 534
Deduct:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 155 148 466 456
Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 7 3 26 3
Loss on impairment of licenses 136 - 136 -
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 4 1 13 14
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (2) - 4 -
Operating income (loss) (GAAP) $ (109) $ 38 $ (62) $ 61
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Three Months Ended
September 30, 		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
UScellular Towers 2024 2023 2024 2023
(Dollars in millions)
EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 31 $ 30 $ 92 $ 90
Add back or deduct:
Expenses related to strategic alternatives review - - 2 -
(Gain) loss on asset disposals - - 1 -
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) 31 30 95 90
Deduct:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 12 11 33 34
Expenses related to strategic alternatives review - - 2 -
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net - - 1 -
Operating income (GAAP) $ 19 $ 19 $ 59 $ 56
Free Cash Flow
The following table presents Free cash flow, which is defined as Cash flows from operating activities less Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment and Cash paid for software license agreements. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure which UScellular believes may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information in evaluating liquidity, specifically, the amount of net cash generated by business operations after deducting Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment and Cash paid for software license agreements.
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Cash flows from operating activities (GAAP) $ 761 $ 719
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment (399) (454)
Cash paid for software license agreements (31) (28)
Free cash flow (Non-GAAP) $ 331 $ 237
Licenses impairment, net of tax
The following non-GAAP financial measure isolates the total effects on net income of the current period Loss on impairment of licenses at UScellular, including tax impacts. UScellular believes this measure may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information to assist in comparing the current period financial results with periods that were not impacted by such a charge.
Three Months Ended
September 30, 		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023 2024 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders (GAAP) $ (79) $ 23 $ (44) $ 40
Adjustments:
Loss on impairment of licenses 136 - 136 -
Deferred tax benefit on the tax-amortizable portion of the impaired licenses (34) - (34) -
Subtotal of Non-GAAP adjustments 102 - 102 -
Net income attributable to UScellular shareholders excluding licenses impairment charge (Non-GAAP) $ 23 $ 23 $ 58 $ 40
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Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
UScellular prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. UScellular's significant accounting policies are discussed in detail in Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Note 2 - Revenue Recognition and Note 10 - Leases in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in UScellular's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. UScellular's application of critical accounting policies and estimates is discussed in detail in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, included in UScellular's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and updated below based on developments since the UScellular Form 10-K was filed.
Wireless Spectrum License Impairment
Wireless spectrum licenses represent a significant component of UScellular's consolidated assets. Wireless spectrum licenses are considered to be indefinite-lived assets, and therefore, are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if there are events or circumstances that cause UScellular to believe that their carrying values exceed their fair values. Wireless spectrum licenses are tested for impairment at the level of reporting referred to as a unit of accounting.
As a result of executing the Securities Purchase Agreement with T-Mobile during the second quarter of 2024, UScellular bifurcated its historical single unit of accounting into two units of accounting - wireless spectrum licenses to be sold under the Securities Purchase Agreement and wireless spectrum licenses to be retained. During the third quarter of 2024, UScellular's efforts to monetize its spectrum assets not subject to the Securities Purchase Agreement provided new evidence that the highest and best use of the retained spectrum to current buyers would be in separate tranches. As a result, UScellular further divided its wireless spectrum licenses units of accounting from one retained unit into eleven units, resulting in twelve total units of accounting. UScellular concluded that there were events and circumstances in the third quarter of 2024 that caused UScellular to believe the carrying values of five of the units of accounting may exceed their respective fair values (i.e. triggering event), and accordingly a quantitative impairment assessment was performed for those units. There was no triggering event for the other units of accounting.
A market approach was used for purposes of the quantitative impairment assessment to value the wireless spectrum licenses for the five units tested, using a range of values established largely through industry benchmarks, FCC auction data, and precedent transactions. The midpoint of the range was established as the estimate of fair value for each unit of accounting. Based on this valuation, the fair value of the wireless spectrum licenses exceeded their respective carrying values by amounts ranging from 9% to 80% for three of the units of accounting. For two of the units of accounting, the fair value of the wireless spectrum licenses was less than the respective carrying value, and a $136 million impairment was recorded to Loss on impairment of licenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations within UScellular's Wireless segment during the third quarter of 2024. The impairment loss was substantially all related to the retained high-band spectrum unit of accounting which includes the 28 GHz, 37 GHz and 39 GHz frequency bands, the carrying value of which was $161 million as of September 30, 2024 after the impairment loss. The impairment loss is driven by the change in the units of accounting described above combined with lower fair value primarily attributed to high-band spectrum as a result of industry-wide challenges encountered related to the operationalization of this spectrum.
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Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Safe Harbor Cautionary Statement
This Form 10-Q, including exhibits, contains statements that are not based on historical facts and represent forward-looking statements, as this term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that UScellular intends, expects, projects, believes, estimates, plans or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The words "believes," "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "projects" and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying them. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be significantly different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, those set forth below, as more fully described under "Risk Factors" in UScellular's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in this Form 10-Q. Each of the following risks could have a material adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations. However, such factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in this document. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements. UScellular undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should carefully consider the Risk Factors in UScellular's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, the following factors and other information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this Form 10-Q to understand the material risks relating to UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
Announced Transactions and Strategic Alternatives Review Risk Factors
▪TDS and UScellular entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of May 24, 2024 with T-Mobile and USCC Wireless Holdings, LLC, pursuant to which, among other things, UScellular has agreed to sell its wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile. In addition, UScellular, and certain subsidiaries of UScellular, entered into the Verizon Purchase Agreement on October 17, 2024 to sell certain wireless spectrum licenses. There is no guarantee that the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement or the Verizon Purchase Agreement will be able to be consummated or that UScellular will be able to find buyers at mutually agreeable prices for its spectrum assets not subject to the Securities Purchase Agreement or the Verizon Purchase Agreement.
Operational Risk Factors
▪Intense competition involving products, services, pricing, promotions and network speed and technologies could adversely affect UScellular's revenues or increase its costs to compete.
▪UScellular's smaller scale relative to larger competitors that may have greater financial and other resources than UScellular has caused and could continue to cause UScellular to be unable to compete successfully, which has adversely affected and could continue to adversely affect its business, financial condition or results of operations.
▪Changes in roaming practices or other factors could cause UScellular's roaming revenues to decline from current levels, roaming expenses to increase from current levels and/or impact UScellular's ability to service its customers in geographic areas where UScellular does not have its own network, which could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
▪An inability to attract diverse people of outstanding talent throughout all levels of the organization, to develop their potential through education and assignments, and to retain them by keeping them engaged, challenged and properly rewarded could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
▪Changes in various business factors, including changes in demand, consumer preferences and perceptions, price competition, churn from customer switching activity and other factors, could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
▪A failure by UScellular to obtain access to adequate radio spectrum to meet current or anticipated future needs and/or to accurately predict future needs for radio spectrum could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
▪Advances or changes in technology could render certain technologies used by UScellular obsolete, could put UScellular at a competitive disadvantage, could reduce UScellular's revenues or could increase its costs of doing business.
▪Complexities associated with deploying new technologies present substantial risk and UScellular investments in unproven technologies may not produce the benefits that UScellular expects.
▪Costs, integration problems or other factors associated with acquisitions, divestitures or exchanges of properties or wireless spectrum licenses and/or expansion of UScellular's business could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
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▪A failure by UScellular to complete significant network construction and systems implementation activities as part of its plans to improve the quality, coverage, capabilities and capacity of its network, support and other systems and infrastructure could have an adverse effect on its operations.
▪Difficulties involving third parties with which UScellular does business, including changes in UScellular's relationships with or financial or operational difficulties, including supply chain disruptions, of key suppliers or independent agents and third-party national retailers who market UScellular's services, could adversely affect UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
▪A failure by UScellular to maintain flexible and capable telecommunication networks or information technologies, or a material disruption thereof, could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
Financial Risk Factors
▪Uncertainty in UScellular's or TDS' future cash flow and liquidity or the inability to access capital, deterioration in the capital markets, changes in interest rates, other changes in UScellular's or TDS' performance or market conditions, changes in UScellular's or TDS' credit ratings or other factors could limit or restrict the availability of financing on terms and prices acceptable to UScellular, which has required and could in the future require UScellular to reduce or delay its construction, development or acquisition programs, reduce the amount of wireless spectrum licenses acquired, divest assets or businesses, and/or reduce or cease share repurchases.
▪UScellular has a significant amount of indebtedness which could adversely affect its financial performance and in turn adversely affect its ability to make payments on its indebtedness, comply with terms of debt covenants and incur additional debt.
▪UScellular's assets and revenue are concentrated in the U.S. wireless telecommunications industry. Consequently, its operating results may fluctuate based on factors related primarily to conditions in this industry.
▪UScellular has significant investments in entities that it does not control. Losses in the value of such investments could have an adverse effect on UScellular's financial condition or results of operations.
Regulatory, Legal and Governance Risk Factors
▪Failure by UScellular to timely or fully comply with any existing applicable legislative and/or regulatory requirements or changes thereto could adversely affect UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
▪UScellular receives significant regulatory support, and is also subject to numerous surcharges and fees from federal, state and local governments - the applicability and the amount of the support and fees are subject to uncertainty, including the ability to pass through certain fees to customers, and this uncertainty could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
▪Settlements, judgments, restraints on its current or future manner of doing business and/or legal costs resulting from pending and future litigation could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
▪The possible development of adverse precedent in litigation or conclusions in professional or environmental studies to the effect that potentially harmful emissions from devices or network equipment, including but not limited to radio frequencies emitted by wireless signals, may cause harmful health or environmental consequences, including cancer, tumors or otherwise harmful impacts, or may interfere with various electronic medical devices or frequencies used by other industries, could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
▪Claims of infringement of intellectual property and proprietary rights of others, primarily involving patent infringement claims, could prevent UScellular from using necessary technology to provide products or services or subject UScellular to expensive intellectual property litigation or monetary penalties, which could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
▪There are potential conflicts of interests between TDS and UScellular.
▪Certain matters, such as control by TDS and provisions in the UScellular Restated Certificate of Incorporation, may serve to discourage or make more difficult a change in control of UScellular or have other consequences.
General Risk Factors
▪UScellular has experienced, and in the future expects to experience, cyber-attacks or other breaches of network or information technology security of varying degrees on a regular basis, which could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
▪Disruption in credit or other financial markets, a deterioration of U.S. or global economic conditions or other events could, among other things, impede UScellular's access to or increase the cost of financing its operating and investment activities and/or result in reduced revenues and lower operating income and cash flows, which would have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
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▪The impact of public health emergencies on UScellular's business is uncertain, but depending on duration and severity could have a material adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
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Risk Factors
In addition to the information set forth in this Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in UScellular's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which could materially affect UScellular's business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in this Form 10-Q and the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, may not be the only risks that could affect UScellular. Additional unidentified or unrecognized risks and uncertainties could materially adversely affect UScellular's business, financial condition and/or operating results. Subject to the foregoing and other than the risk factors set forth below, UScellular has not identified for disclosure any material changes to the risk factors as previously disclosed in UScellular's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
TDS and UScellular entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of May 24, 2024 with T-Mobile and USCC Wireless Holdings, LLC, pursuant to which, among other things, UScellular has agreed to sell its wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile. In addition, UScellular, and certain subsidiaries of UScellular, entered into the Verizon Purchase Agreement on October 17, 2024 to sell certain wireless spectrum licenses. There is no guarantee that the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement or the Verizon Purchase Agreement will be able to be consummated or that UScellular will be able to find buyers at mutually agreeable prices for its spectrum assets not subject to the Securities Purchase Agreement or the Verizon Purchase Agreement.
On August 4, 2023, TDS and UScellular announced that the Boards of Directors of both companies decided to initiate a process to explore a range of strategic alternatives for UScellular. As part of this review, on May 28, 2024, UScellular announced that its Board of Directors unanimously approved the execution of the Securities Purchase Agreement pursuant to which, among other things, UScellular has agreed to sell its wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile. The Securities Purchase Agreement also contemplates, among other things, a Short-Term Spectrum Manager Lease Agreement that will become effective at the closing date, which provides T-Mobile with an exclusive license to use certain UScellular spectrum assets at no cost for up to one-year for the purpose of providing continued, uninterrupted service to customers.
On October 17, 2024, UScellular, and certain subsidiaries of UScellular, entered into the Verizon Purchase Agreement to sell certain AWS, Cellular and PCS wireless spectrum licenses and agreed to grant Verizon certain rights to lease such licenses prior to the transaction close.
The transactions resulting from the strategic alternatives review are subject to regulatory approval, which UScellular may not be able to obtain on the terms or timeline currently contemplated, or at all. Similarly, UScellular may not be able to satisfy the other closing conditions applicable to each of the transactions, which in the case of the Verizon transaction include the closing of the T-Mobile transaction and the termination of the T-Mobile Short-Term Spectrum Manager Lease Agreement. In addition, UScellular may be unable to find buyers at mutually agreeable prices for its spectrum assets not subject to the Securities Purchase Agreement or the Verizon Purchase Agreement.
The uncertainty regarding the transactions and continued strategic alternatives review process could result in: a diversion of management's attention from UScellular's existing business; a failure to achieve financial and operating objectives; adverse effects on UScellular's financial condition or results of operations; a failure to retain key personnel, customers, business partners or contracts; and volatility in UScellular's stock price.
In addition, the strategic alternatives review process has already resulted in the incurrence of significant expense - this is expected to continue. The execution of the Securities Purchase Agreement impacted UScellular's units of accounting and asset groups for purposes of assessing wireless spectrum licenses and property, plant and equipment for impairment, but did not require an impairment assessment to be performed during the second quarter of 2024. During the third quarter of 2024, there were events and circumstances that impacted the units of accounting for purposes of assessing wireless spectrum licenses for impairment. UScellular performed a quantitative impairment assessment on certain units of accounting and recorded an impairment in the third quarter of 2024. There may be future events that could require an impairment assessment to be performed which may result in additional impairments. There can be no assurance that such comprehensive process, which is ongoing, will result in the transactions or any strategic alternative of any kind being successfully completed or that the process or any outcomes of the process will not have an adverse impact on UScellular's business or financial statements.
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UScellular receives significant regulatory support, and is also subject to numerous surcharges and fees from federal, state and local governments - the applicability and the amount of the support and fees are subject to uncertainty, including the ability to pass through certain fees to customers, and this uncertainty could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
Telecommunications companies may be designated by states, or in some cases by the FCC, as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) to receive universal service support payments if they provide specified services in "high-cost" areas. UScellular has been designated as an ETC in certain states and received $92 million in high-cost support for service to high-cost areas in 2023. While there is uncertainty, UScellular expects regulatory support payments to decline in future periods, and there is no assurance that UScellular will qualify for future regulatory support programs. If regulatory support is discontinued or reduced from current levels, or if receipt of future regulatory support is contingent upon making certain network-related expenditures, this could have an adverse effect on UScellular's business, financial condition or operating results and cash flows. Adding to this uncertainty are a series of court cases challenging the constitutionality of the universal service fund program that establishes and administers these regulatory support payments. On July 24, 2024, differing from earlier decisions at the Sixth and Eleventh Circuits, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit sitting in en banc review ruled that the universal service fund program is unconstitutional as currently administered, and remanded the case to the FCC. The FCC has filed a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court. In addition, a working group within Congress is considering legislative reform of the universal service funding program, but has not yet released legislative text. This ruling may have significant adverse effects on the funding that UScellular receives from programs like USF high-cost support. Additionally, the ruling may have significant adverse effects on federal government supported programs that many of UScellular's customers benefit from.
Telecommunications providers pay a variety of surcharges and fees on their gross revenues from interstate and intrastate services, including USF fees and common carrier regulatory fees. The division of services between interstate services and intrastate services, including the divisions associated with Federal USF fees, is a matter of interpretation and in the future may be contested by the FCC or state authorities. The FCC in the future also may change the basis on which Federal USF fees are charged. The Federal government and many states also apply transaction-based taxes to sales of telecommunications services and products and to purchases of telecommunications services from various carriers. In addition, state regulators and local governments have imposed and may continue to impose various surcharges, taxes and fees on telecommunications services. The applicability of these surcharges and fees to UScellular's services is uncertain in many cases and periodically, state and federal regulators may increase or change the surcharges and fees UScellular currently pays. In some instances, UScellular passes through these charges to its customers. However, Congress, the FCC, state regulatory agencies or state legislatures may limit the ability to pass through transaction-based tax liabilities, regulatory surcharges and regulatory fees imposed on UScellular to customers. UScellular may or may not be able to recover some or all of those taxes from its customers and the amount of taxes may deter demand for its services or increase its cost to provide service.
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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market Risk
As of September 30, 2024, approximately 70% of UScellular's long-term debt was in fixed-rate senior notes and approximately 30% in variable-rate debt. Fluctuations in market interest rates can lead to volatility in the fair value of fixed-rate notes and interest expense on variable-rate debt.
The following table presents the scheduled principal payments on long-term debt, lease obligations, and the related weighted average interest rates by maturity dates at September 30, 2024.
Principal Payments Due by Period
Long-Term Debt Obligations1
Weighted-Avg. Interest Rates on Long-Term Debt Obligations2
(Dollars in millions)
Remainder of 2024 $ 5 6.6 %
2025 20 6.6 %
2026 268 6.5 %
2027 158 6.5 %
2028 286 7.0 %
Thereafter 2,228 6.1 %
Total $ 2,965 6.3 %
1The total long-term debt obligation differs from Long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheet due to unamortized debt issuance costs on all non-revolving debt instruments, unamortized discounts related to the 6.7% Senior Notes, and outstanding borrowings under the receivables securitization agreement, which principal repayments are not scheduled but are instead based on actual receivable collections.
2Represents the weighted average stated interest rates at September 30, 2024, for debt maturing in the respective periods.
See Note 3 - Fair Value Measurements in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to the fair value of UScellular's Long-term debt as of September 30, 2024.
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Financial Statements
United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Operations
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
September 30, 		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023 2024 2023
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Operating revenues
Service $ 747 $ 762 $ 2,245 $ 2,289
Equipment sales 175 201 554 617
Total operating revenues 922 963 2,799 2,906
Operating expenses
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 180 185 542 557
Cost of equipment sold 203 228 630 708
Selling, general and administrative 324 333 977 1,020
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 167 159 499 490
Loss on impairment of licenses 136 - 136 -
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 4 1 14 14
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (2) - 4 -
Total operating expenses 1,012 906 2,802 2,789
Operating income (loss) (90) 57 (3) 117
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities 43 40 123 121
Interest and dividend income 4 3 9 8
Interest expense (49) (50) (137) (147)
Total investment and other expense (2) (7) (5) (18)
Income (loss) before income taxes (92) 50 (8) 99
Income tax expense (benefit) (14) 27 29 56
Net income (loss) (78) 23 (37) 43
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax 1 - 7 3
Net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders $ (79) $ 23 $ (44) $ 40
Basic weighted average shares outstanding 86 85 86 85
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders $ (0.92) $ 0.26 $ (0.51) $ 0.47
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 86 86 86 86
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders $ (0.92) $ 0.26 $ (0.51) $ 0.47
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss) $ (37) $ 43
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 499 490
Bad debts expense 65 72
Stock-based compensation expense 37 14
Deferred income taxes, net (35) 41
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (123) (121)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities 106 97
Loss on impairment of licenses 136 -
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 14 14
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net 4 -
Other operating activities 3 4
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable 30 30
Equipment installment plans receivable 12 20
Inventory 38 86
Accounts payable 12 (39)
Customer deposits and deferred revenues (4) (16)
Accrued taxes 46 12
Accrued interest 8 7
Other assets and liabilities (50) (35)
Net cash provided by operating activities 761 719
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment (399) (454)
Cash paid for licenses (17) (24)
Other investing activities 1 14
Net cash used in investing activities (415) (464)
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of long-term debt 40 115
Repayment of long-term debt (203) (395)
Repayment of short-term debt - (60)
Tax payments for stock-based compensation awards (11) (6)
Repurchase of Common Shares (26) -
Distributions to noncontrolling interests (4) (2)
Cash paid for software license agreements (31) (28)
Other financing activities (2) (2)
Net cash used in financing activities (237) (378)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 109 (123)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Beginning of period 179 308
End of period $ 288 $ 185
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheet - Assets
(Unaudited)
September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 272 $ 150
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances of $59 and $66, respectively
871 900
Affiliated 1 3
Other, less allowances of $2 and $4, respectively
46 54
Inventory, net 161 199
Prepaid expenses 55 57
Income taxes receivable - 1
Other current assets 21 36
Total current assets 1,427 1,400
Assets held for sale - 15
Licenses 4,576 4,693
Investments in unconsolidated entities 478 461
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction 8,402 9,560
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization 5,898 6,984
Property, plant and equipment, net 2,504 2,576
Operating lease right-of-use assets 912 915
Other assets and deferred charges 619 690
Total assets1
$ 10,516 $ 10,750
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheet - Liabilities and Equity
(Unaudited)
September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt $ 20 $ 20
Accounts payable
Affiliated 6 7
Trade 266 241
Customer deposits and deferred revenues 225 229
Accrued taxes 63 32
Accrued compensation 66 83
Short-term operating lease liabilities 139 135
Other current liabilities 124 154
Total current liabilities 909 901
Deferred liabilities and credits
Deferred income tax liability, net 719 755
Long-term operating lease liabilities 813 831
Other deferred liabilities and credits 579 565
Long-term debt, net 2,882 3,044
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features 16 12
Equity
UScellular shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares
Authorized 190 shares (50 Series A Common and 140 Common Shares)
Issued 88 shares (33 Series A Common and 55 Common Shares)
Outstanding 86 shares (33 Series A Common and 53 Common Shares) and 85 shares (33 Series A Common and 52 Common Shares), respectively
Par Value ($1.00 per share) ($33 Series A Common and $55 Common Shares)
88 88
Additional paid-in capital 1,764 1,726
Treasury shares, at cost, 3 Common Shares
(83) (80)
Retained earnings 2,813 2,892
Total UScellular shareholders' equity 4,582 4,626
Noncontrolling interests 16 16
Total equity 4,598 4,642
Total liabilities and equity1
$ 10,516 $ 10,750
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
1The consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, include assets held by consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $1,047 million and $1,217 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of UScellular. The consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $24 million and $26 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of UScellular. See Note 12 - Variable Interest Entities for additional information.
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United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
(Unaudited)
UScellular Shareholders
Series A
Common and
Common
shares
Additional
paid-in
capital
Treasury
shares
Retained
earnings
Total
UScellular
shareholders'
equity
Noncontrolling
interests
Total equity
(Dollars in millions)
June 30, 2024 $ 88 $ 1,752 $ (58) $ 2,893 $ 4,675 $ 15 $ 4,690
Net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders - - - (79) (79) - (79)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests classified as equity
- - - - - 1 1
Repurchase of Common Shares - - (26) - (26) - (26)
Incentive and compensation plans - 12 1 (1) 12 - 12
September 30, 2024 $ 88 $ 1,764 $ (83) $ 2,813 $ 4,582 $ 16 $ 4,598
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
(Unaudited)
UScellular Shareholders
Series A
Common and
Common
shares
Additional
paid-in
capital
Treasury
shares
Retained
earnings
Total
UScellular
shareholders'
equity
Noncontrolling
interests
Total equity
(Dollars in millions)
June 30, 2023 $ 88 $ 1,710 $ (80) $ 2,855 $ 4,573 $ 16 $ 4,589
Net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders - - - 23 23 - 23
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests classified as equity
- - - - - 1 1
Incentive and compensation plans - 7 - - 7 - 7
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - - - - - (1) (1)
September 30, 2023 $ 88 $ 1,717 $ (80) $ 2,878 $ 4,603 $ 16 $ 4,619
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
(Unaudited)
UScellular Shareholders
Series A
Common and
Common
shares 		Additional
paid-in
capital 		Treasury
shares 		Retained
earnings 		Total
UScellular
shareholders'
equity 		Noncontrolling
interests 		Total equity
(Dollars in millions)
December 31, 2023 $ 88 $ 1,726 $ (80) $ 2,892 $ 4,626 $ 16 $ 4,642
Net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders - - - (44) (44) - (44)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests classified as equity - - - - - 3 3
Repurchase of Common Shares - - (26) - (26) - (26)
Incentive and compensation plans - 38 23 (35) 26 - 26
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - - - - - (3) (3)
September 30, 2024 $ 88 $ 1,764 $ (83) $ 2,813 $ 4,582 $ 16 $ 4,598
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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United States Cellular Corporation
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
(Unaudited)
UScellular Shareholders
Series A
Common and
Common
shares 		Additional
paid-in
capital 		Treasury
shares 		Retained
earnings 		Total
UScellular
shareholders'
equity 		Noncontrolling
interests 		Total equity
(Dollars in millions)
December 31, 2022 $ 88 $ 1,703 $ (98) $ 2,861 $ 4,554 $ 16 $ 4,570
Net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders - - - 40 40 - 40
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests classified as equity - - - - - 2 2
Incentive and compensation plans - 14 18 (23) 9 - 9
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - - - - - (2) (2)
September 30, 2023 $ 88 $ 1,717 $ (80) $ 2,878 $ 4,603 $ 16 $ 4,619
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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United States Cellular Corporation
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1 Basis of Presentation
United States Cellular Corporation (UScellular), a Delaware Corporation, is an 83%-owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS).
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.
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.
Change in Reportable Segments
During the second quarter of 2024, UScellular modified its reporting structure due to the planned disposal of its wireless operations and, as a result, disaggregated its operations into two reportable segments - Wireless and Towers. This presentation reflects how UScellular's chief operating decision maker allocates resources and evaluates operating performance following this strategic shift. Prior periods have been updated to conform to the new reportable segments. See Note 13 - Business Segment Information for additional information about UScellular's segments.
Software License Agreements
Certain software licenses are recorded as acquisitions of property, plant and equipment and the incurrence of a liability to the extent that the license fees are not fully paid at acquisition, and are treated as non-cash activity in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Such acquisitions of software licenses that are not reflected as Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment were $8 million and $18 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Restricted Cash
UScellular presents restricted cash with cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Restricted cash primarily consists of balances required under the receivables securitization agreement. See Note 11 - Debt for additional information related to the receivables securitization agreement. The following table provides a reconciliation of Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheet to the total of the amounts in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents $ 272 $ 150
Restricted cash included in Other current assets 16 29
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in the statement of cash flows $ 288 $ 179
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Note 2 Revenue Recognition
Disaggregation of Revenue
In the following table, UScellular's revenues are disaggregated by type of service, which represents the relevant categorization of revenues for UScellular, and timing of recognition. Service revenues are recognized over time and Equipment sales are recognized at a point in time.
Three Months Ended
September 30, 		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023 2024 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Revenues from contracts with customers:
Retail service $ 669 $ 687 $ 2,014 $ 2,065
Other service 52 50 154 149
Service revenues from contracts with customers 721 737 2,168 2,214
Equipment sales 175 201 554 617
Total revenues from contracts with customers1
896 938 2,722 2,831
Operating lease income1
26 25 77 75
Total operating revenues $ 922 $ 963 $ 2,799 $ 2,906
1Total revenues from contracts with customers represents revenues related to the Wireless segment and Operating lease income represents revenues related to the Towers segment.
Contract Balances
The following table provides balances for contract assets from contracts with customers, which are recorded in Other current assets and Other assets and deferred charges in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, and contract liabilities from contracts with customers, which are recorded in Customer deposits and deferred revenues and Other deferred liabilities and credits in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Contract assets $ 4 $ 4
Contract liabilities $ 311 $ 331
Revenue recognized related to contract liabilities existing at January 1, 2024 was $178 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations
The following table includes estimated service revenues expected to be recognized related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) at the end of the reporting period. These estimates represent service revenues to be recognized when wireless services are delivered to customers pursuant to service plan contracts and under certain roaming agreements with other carriers. These estimates are based on contracts in place as of September 30, 2024 and may vary from actual results. 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.
Service Revenues
(Dollars in millions)
Remainder of 2024 $ 124
2025 156
Thereafter 91
Total
$ 371
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Contract Cost Assets
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. The contract cost asset balance related to commission fees and other costs was $128 million and $127 million at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and was recorded in Other assets and deferred charges in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. 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. Amortization of contract cost assets was $21 million and $64 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and $23 million and $70 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, and was included in Selling, general and administrative expenses.
Note 3 Fair Value Measurements
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, UScellular did not have any material financial or nonfinancial assets or liabilities that were required to be recorded at fair value in its Consolidated Balance Sheet in accordance with GAAP.
The provisions of GAAP establish a fair value hierarchy that contains three levels for inputs used in fair value measurements. Level 1 inputs include quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or quoted market prices for identical assets and liabilities in inactive markets. Level 3 inputs are unobservable. A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is not representative of its expected performance or its overall risk profile and, therefore Level 3 assets are not necessarily higher risk than Level 2 assets or Level 1 assets.
As of September 30, 2024, UScellular recorded a net written call option at fair value, which was considered Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. See Note 7 - Divestitures for additional information.
UScellular has applied the provisions of fair value accounting for purposes of computing the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes as displayed below.
Level within the Fair Value Hierarchy
September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
Book Value
Fair Value
Book Value
Fair Value
(Dollars in millions)
Long-term debt 2 $ 2,937 $ 2,868 $ 3,099 $ 2,611
Long-term debt excludes lease obligations, the current portion of Long-term debt and debt financing costs. The fair value of Long-term debt was estimated using various methods, including quoted market prices and discounted cash flow analyses.
The fair values of Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term debt approximate their book values due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.
Note 4 Equipment Installment Plans
UScellular sells devices to customers under equipment installment plans over a specified time period. For certain equipment installment plans, after a specified period of time or amount of payments, the customer may have the right to upgrade to a new device and have the remaining unpaid equipment installment contract balance waived, subject to certain conditions, including trading in the original device in good working condition and signing a new equipment installment contract.
The following table summarizes equipment installment plan receivables.
September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Equipment installment plan receivables, gross $ 1,075 $ 1,151
Allowance for credit losses (80) (90)
Equipment installment plan receivables, net $ 995 $ 1,061
Net balance presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as:
Accounts receivable - Customers and agents (Current portion) $ 578 $ 577
Other assets and deferred charges (Non-current portion) 417 484
Equipment installment plan receivables, net $ 995 $ 1,061
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UScellular uses various inputs to evaluate the credit profiles of its customers, including internal data, information from credit bureaus and other sources. From this evaluation, a credit class is assigned to the customer that determines the number of eligible lines, the amount of credit available, and the down payment requirement, if any. These credit classes are grouped into four credit categories: lowest risk, lower risk, slight risk and higher risk. A customer's assigned credit class is reviewed periodically and a change is made, if appropriate. An equipment installment plan billed amount is considered past due if not paid within 30 days. The balance and aging of the equipment installment plan receivables on a gross basis by credit category were as follows:
September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
Lowest Risk
Lower Risk
Slight Risk
Higher Risk
Total
Lowest Risk
Lower Risk
Slight Risk
Higher Risk
Total
(Dollars in millions)
Unbilled $ 934 $ 68 $ 13 $ 5 $ 1,020 $ 977 $ 88 $ 16 $ 4 $ 1,085
Billed - current 34 3 1 - 38 35 5 2 1 43
Billed - past due 10 4 2 1 17 12 7 3 1 23
Total $ 978 $ 75 $ 16 $ 6 $ 1,075 $ 1,024 $ 100 $ 21 $ 6 $ 1,151
The balance of the equipment installment plan receivables as of September 30, 2024 on a gross basis by year of origination were as follows:
2021 2022 2023 2024
Total
(Dollars in millions)
Lowest Risk $ 1 $ 189 $ 395 $ 393 $ 978
Lower Risk - 8 26 41 75
Slight Risk - 1 4 11 16
Higher Risk - - 2 4 6
Total $ 1 $ 198 $ 427 $ 449 $ 1,075
The write-offs, net of recoveries for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 on a gross basis by year of origination were as follows:
2021 2022 2023 2024
Total
(Dollars in millions)
Write-offs, net of recoveries $ (1) $ 15 $ 34 $ 6 $ 54
Activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, in the allowance for credit losses for equipment installment plan receivables was as follows:
September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Allowance for credit losses, beginning of period $ 90 $ 96
Bad debts expense 44 47
Write-offs, net of recoveries (54) (58)
Allowance for credit losses, end of period $ 80 $ 85
Note 5 Income Taxes
The effective tax rate on Income (loss) before income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was 14.4% and (340.3)%, respectively. These effective tax rates reflect the impacts of recurring tax adjustments including nondeductible interest and compensation expenses as well as the discrete impact of the impairment of certain wireless spectrum licenses.
The effective tax rate on Income before income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was 53.1% and 56.4%, respectively. These effective tax rates were higher than normal due primarily to the relatively low amount of Income before income taxes which increased the effective tax rate impact of recurring tax adjustments including nondeductible interest and compensation expenses, as well as discrete increases in state valuation allowances which reduced the net value of deferred tax assets.
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Note 6 Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share attributable to UScellular shareholders is computed by dividing Net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders by the weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders is computed by dividing Net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders by the weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding during the period adjusted to include the effects of potentially dilutive securities. Potentially dilutive securities primarily include incremental shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and the vesting of performance and restricted stock units, as calculated using the treasury stock method.
The amounts used in computing basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders were as follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30, 		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023 2024 2023
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Net income (loss) attributable to UScellular shareholders $ (79) $ 23 $ (44) $ 40
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings (loss) per share 86 85 86 85
Effects of dilutive securities - 1 - 1
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings (loss) per share 86 86 86 86
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders $ (0.92) $ 0.26 $ (0.51) $ 0.47
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders $ (0.92) $ 0.26 $ (0.51) $ 0.47
Certain Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of performance and restricted stock units were not included in weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the calculation of Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to UScellular shareholders because their effects were antidilutive. The number of such Common Shares excluded was 3 million and 2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and less than 1 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Note 7 Divestitures
On August 4, 2023, TDS and UScellular announced that the Boards of Directors of both companies decided to initiate a process to explore a range of strategic alternatives for UScellular. On May 28, 2024, UScellular announced that its Board of Directors unanimously approved the execution of a Securities Purchase Agreement (Securities Purchase Agreement) by and among TDS, UScellular, T-Mobile US, Inc. (T-Mobile) and USCC Wireless Holdings, LLC, pursuant to which, among other things, UScellular has agreed to sell its wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile for a purchase price, subject to adjustment as specified in the Securities Purchase Agreement, of $4,400 million, which is payable in a combination of cash and the assumption of up to approximately $2,000 million in debt. The Securities Purchase Agreement also contemplates, among other things, a Short-Term Spectrum Manager Lease Agreement that will become effective at the closing date, which provides T-Mobile with an exclusive license to use certain UScellular spectrum assets at no cost for up to one-year for the purpose of providing continued, uninterrupted service to customers. UScellular expects to present the wireless operations and select spectrum assets sold to T-Mobile as discontinued operations if and when the accounting criteria is met. The transactions are expected to close in mid-2025, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
On October 17, 2024, UScellular, and certain subsidiaries of UScellular, entered into a License Purchase Agreement (Verizon Purchase Agreement) with Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon) to sell certain AWS, Cellular and PCS wireless spectrum licenses and agreed to grant Verizon certain rights to lease such licenses prior to the transaction close for total proceeds of $1,000 million. As of September 30, 2024, the book value of the wireless spectrum licenses to be sold was $586 million. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, and is contingent on the closing of the T-Mobile transaction and the termination of the T-Mobile Short-Term Spectrum Manager Lease Agreement.
The strategic alternatives review process is ongoing as UScellular seeks to opportunistically monetize its spectrum assets that are not subject to the Securities Purchase Agreement or the Verizon Purchase Agreement.
UScellular incurred third-party expenses related to the announced transactions and strategic alternatives review of $7 million and $28 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and $3 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, which are included in Selling, general and administrative expenses.
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UScellular also assessed whether the execution of the Securities Purchase Agreement constituted a significant change in the way it expects to operate its long-lived assets. Specifically, given the Securities Purchase Agreement, and UScellular's plan to divest of its wireless operations, UScellular expects to generate cash flows from the wireless operations separately from the retained business. Therefore, in the second quarter of 2024, UScellular bifurcated the historical single asset group into two asset groups - wireless and towers. At that time, UScellular also assessed whether an impairment test of its long-lived assets was required and determined that there was no triggering event present due to the factors just described that required a recoverability test to be performed. In the third quarter of 2024, UScellular re-assessed whether an impairment test of its long-lived assets was required considering the wireless spectrum license impairment and determined that there was no triggering event that required a recoverability test to be performed.
As part of the transaction, UScellular entered into a Put/Call Agreement with T-Mobile whereby T-Mobile has the right to call certain spectrum assets and UScellular has the right to put certain spectrum assets to T-Mobile for an aggregate agreed upon price of $106 million. The call option notice period started on May 24, 2024, and the put exercise period starts at the close of the broader transaction. There was no cash exchanged at the inception of the Put/Call Agreement. All license transfers pursuant to any put/call are subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval. UScellular accounts for this instrument as a net written call option and records such option at fair value each reporting period unless/until such option is exercised or terminated. UScellular estimated the fair value of the net written call option at $6 million as of September 30, 2024, which was recorded to Other deferred liabilities and credits in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The change in fair value is recorded to (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Note 8 Intangible Assets
Wireless Spectrum License Impairment
Wireless spectrum licenses represent a significant component of UScellular's consolidated assets. Wireless spectrum licenses are considered to be indefinite-lived assets, and therefore, are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if there are events or circumstances that cause UScellular to believe that their carrying values exceed their fair values. Wireless spectrum licenses are tested for impairment at the level of reporting referred to as a unit of accounting.
As a result of executing the Securities Purchase Agreement with T-Mobile during the second quarter of 2024, UScellular bifurcated its historical single unit of accounting into two units of accounting - wireless spectrum licenses to be sold under the Securities Purchase Agreement and wireless spectrum licenses to be retained. During the third quarter of 2024, UScellular's efforts to monetize its spectrum assets not subject to the Securities Purchase Agreement provided new evidence that the highest and best use of the retained spectrum to current buyers would be in separate tranches. As a result, UScellular further divided its wireless spectrum licenses units of accounting from one retained unit into eleven units, resulting in twelve total units of accounting. UScellular concluded that there were events and circumstances in the third quarter of 2024 that caused UScellular to believe the carrying values of five of the units of accounting may exceed their respective fair values (i.e. triggering event), and accordingly a quantitative impairment assessment was performed for those units. There was no triggering event for the other units of accounting.
A market approach was used for purposes of the quantitative impairment assessment to value the wireless spectrum licenses for the five units tested, using a range of values established largely through industry benchmarks, FCC auction data, and precedent transactions. The midpoint of the range was established as the estimate of fair value for each unit of accounting. Based on this valuation, the fair value of the wireless spectrum licenses exceeded their respective carrying values by amounts ranging from 9% to 80% for three of the units of accounting. For two of the units of accounting, the fair value of the wireless spectrum licenses was less than the respective carrying value, and a $136 million impairment was recorded to Loss on impairment of licenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations within UScellular's Wireless segment during the third quarter of 2024. The impairment loss was substantially all related to the retained high-band spectrum unit of accounting which includes the 28 GHz, 37 GHz and 39 GHz frequency bands, the carrying value of which was $161 million as of September 30, 2024, after the impairment loss. The impairment loss is driven by the change in the units of accounting described above combined with lower fair value primarily attributed to high-band spectrum as a result of industry-wide challenges encountered related to the operationalization of this spectrum.
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Note 9 Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Investments in unconsolidated entities consist of amounts invested in entities in which UScellular holds a noncontrolling interest. UScellular's Investments in unconsolidated entities are accounted for using the equity method, measurement alternative method or net asset value practical expedient method as shown in the table below. The carrying value of measurement alternative method investments represents cost minus any impairments plus or minus any observable price changes.
September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Equity method investments $ 464 $ 448
Measurement alternative method investments 5 4
Investments recorded using the net asset value practical expedient 9 9
Total investments in unconsolidated entities $ 478 $ 461
The following table, which is based on unaudited information provided in part by third parties, summarizes the combined results of operations of UScellular's equity method investments.
Three Months Ended
September 30, 		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024 2023 2024 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Revenues $ 1,878 $ 1,805 $ 5,541 $ 5,369
Operating expenses 1,465 1,420 4,293 4,138
Operating income 413 385 1,248 1,231
Other income (expense), net 1 (13) - (19)
Net income $ 414 $ 372 $ 1,248 $ 1,212
Note 10 Asset Retirement Obligations
Asset retirement obligations are included in Other deferred liabilities and credits in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
During the three months ended September 30, 2024, UScellular performed a review of the assumptions and estimated future costs related to asset retirement obligations. The results of the review and other changes in asset retirement obligations during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were as follows:
Asset Retirement Obligations
(Dollars in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2023 $ 367
Additional liabilities accrued 4
Revisions in estimated cash outflows 9
Disposition of assets (2)
Accretion expense 15
Balance at September 30, 2024 $ 393
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Note 11 Debt
Receivables Securitization Agreement
UScellular, through its subsidiaries, has a receivables securitization agreement that permits securitized borrowings using its equipment installment plan receivables. Amounts under the agreement may be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed from time to time until September 2025. Unless the agreement is amended to extend the maturity date, repayments based on receivable collections commence in October 2025. The outstanding borrowings bear interest at a rate of the lender's cost of funds (which has historically tracked closely to Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR)) plus 1.15%. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, UScellular borrowed $40 million and repaid $188 million under its receivables securitization agreement. As of September 30, 2024, the outstanding borrowings under the agreement were $2 million and the unused borrowing capacity was $448 million, subject to sufficient collateral to satisfy the asset borrowing base provisions of the agreement. As of September 30, 2024, the USCC Master Note Trust held $132 million of assets available to be pledged as collateral for the receivables securitization agreement.
Term Loan Agreements
In October 2024, UScellular repaid $40 million under its term loan agreement due July 2026.
Debt Covenants
The revolving credit agreement, term loan agreements, export credit financing agreement and receivables securitization agreement require UScellular to comply with certain affirmative and negative covenants, which include certain financial covenants that may restrict the borrowing capacity available. UScellular is required to maintain the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter at a level not to exceed the following: 4.00 to 1.00 from April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025; 3.75 to 1.00 from April 1, 2025 and thereafter. UScellular is also required to maintain the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio at a level not lower than 3.00 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. UScellular believes that it was in compliance as of September 30, 2024 with all such financial covenants.
Note 12 Variable Interest Entities
Consolidated VIEs
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.
UScellular formed USCC EIP LLC (Seller/Sub-Servicer), USCC Receivables Funding LLC (Transferor) and the USCC Master Note Trust (Trust), collectively the special purpose entities (SPEs), to facilitate a securitized borrowing using its equipment installment plan receivables. Under a Receivables Sale Agreement, UScellular wholly-owned, majority-owned and unconsolidated entities, collectively referred to as "affiliated entities", transfer device equipment installment plan contracts to the Seller/Sub-Servicer. The Seller/Sub-Servicer aggregates device equipment installment plan contracts, and performs servicing, collection and all other administrative activities related to accounting for the equipment installment plan contracts. The Seller/Sub-Servicer sells the eligible equipment installment plan receivables to the Transferor, a bankruptcy remote entity, which subsequently sells the receivables to the Trust. The Trust, which is bankruptcy remote and isolated from the creditors of UScellular, will be responsible for issuing asset-backed variable funding notes (Notes), which are collateralized by the equipment installment plan receivables owned by the Trust. Given that UScellular has the power to direct the activities of these SPEs, and that these SPEs lack sufficient equity to finance their activities, UScellular is deemed to have a controlling financial interest in the SPEs, and therefore consolidates them. All transactions with third parties (e.g., issuance of the asset-backed variable funding notes) will be accounted for as a secured borrowing due to the pledging of equipment installment plan contracts as collateral, significant continuing involvement in the transferred assets, subordinated interests of the cash flows, and continued evidence of control of the receivables.
The following VIEs were formed to participate in FCC auctions of wireless spectrum licenses and to fund, establish, and provide wireless service with respect to any FCC wireless spectrum licenses won in the auctions:
▪Advantage Spectrum, L.P. (Advantage Spectrum) and Sunshine Spectrum, Inc., the general partner of Advantage Spectrum; and
▪King Street Wireless, L.P. (King Street Wireless) and King Street Wireless, Inc., the general partner of King Street Wireless.
These particular VIEs are collectively referred to as designated entities. The power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of these VIEs is shared. Specifically, the general partner of these VIEs has the exclusive right to manage, operate and control the limited partnerships and make all decisions to carry on the business of the partnerships. The general partner of each partnership needs the consent of the limited partner, an indirect UScellular subsidiary, to sell or lease certain wireless spectrum licenses, to make certain large expenditures, admit other partners or liquidate the limited partnerships. Although the power to direct the activities of these VIEs is shared, UScellular has the most significant level of exposure to the variability associated with the economic performance of the VIEs, indicating that UScellular is the primary beneficiary of the VIEs. Therefore, in accordance with GAAP, these VIEs are consolidated into the UScellular financial statements.
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UScellular also consolidates other VIEs that are limited partnerships that provide wireless service. A limited partnership is a variable interest entity unless the limited partners hold substantive participating rights or kick-out rights over the general partner. For certain limited partnerships, UScellular is the general partner and manages the operations. In these partnerships, the limited partners do not have substantive kick-out or participating rights and, further, such limited partners do not have the authority to remove the general partner. Therefore, these limited partnerships also are recognized as VIEs and are consolidated into the UScellular financial statements under the variable interest model.
The following table presents the classification and balances of the consolidated VIEs' assets and liabilities in UScellular's Consolidated Balance Sheet.
September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 49 $ 24
Accounts receivable 627 633
Inventory, net 4 4
Other current assets 17 30
Licenses 641 641
Property, plant and equipment, net 132 143
Operating lease right-of-use assets 49 48
Other assets and deferred charges 429 494
Total assets $ 1,948 $ 2,017
Liabilities
Current liabilities $ 36 $ 37
Long-term operating lease liabilities 43 42
Other deferred liabilities and credits 28 29
Total liabilities1
$ 107 $ 108
1Total liabilities does not include amounts borrowed under the receivables securitization agreement. See Note 11 - Debt for additional information.
Unconsolidated VIEs
UScellular manages the operations of and holds a variable interest in certain other limited partnerships, but is not the primary beneficiary of these entities, and therefore does not consolidate them into the UScellular financial statements under the variable interest model.
UScellular's total investment in these unconsolidated entities was $5 million and $6 million at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and is included in Investments in unconsolidated entities in UScellular's Consolidated Balance Sheet. The maximum exposure from unconsolidated VIEs is limited to the investment held by UScellular in those entities.
Other Related Matters
UScellular made contributions, loans or advances to its VIEs totaling $295 million and $276 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, of which $253 million in 2024 and $244 million in 2023, are related to USCC EIP LLC as discussed above. UScellular may agree to make additional capital contributions and/or advances to these or other VIEs and/or to their general partners to provide additional funding for their operations or the development of wireless spectrum licenses granted in various auctions. UScellular may finance such amounts with a combination of cash on hand, borrowings under its revolving credit or receivables securitization agreements and/or other long-term debt. There is no assurance that UScellular will be able to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all to provide such financial support.
The limited partnership agreement of Advantage Spectrum also provided the general partner with a put option whereby the general partner may require the limited partner, a subsidiary of UScellular, to purchase its interest in the limited partnership. The put option was not exercised during the exercise period.
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Note 13 Business Segment Information
During the second quarter of 2024, UScellular modified its reporting structure due to the planned disposal of its wireless operations and, as a result, disaggregated its operations into two reportable segments - Wireless and Towers. This presentation reflects how UScellular's chief operating decision maker allocates resources and evaluates operating performance following this strategic shift. The Towers segment records rental revenue and the Wireless segment records a related expense when the Wireless segment uses company-owned towers to locate its network equipment, using estimated market pricing - this revenue and expense is eliminated in consolidation. Prior periods have been updated to conform to the new reportable segments.
Financial data for UScellular's reportable segments for the three and nine month periods ended, or as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, is as follows. See Note 1 - Basis of Presentation for additional information.
Three Months Ended or as of September 30, 2024 Wireless Towers Intra-company eliminations UScellular Total
(Dollars in millions)
Operating revenues
Service $ 721 $ 59 $ (33) $ 747
Equipment and product sales 175 - - 175
Total operating revenues 896 59 (33) 922
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 193 20 (33) 180
Cost of equipment and products 203 - - 203
Selling, general and administrative 316 8 - 324
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 155 12 - 167
Loss on impairment of licenses 136 - - 136
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 4 - - 4
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (2) - - (2)
Operating income (loss) (109) 19 - (90)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities1
43
Interest and dividend income1
4
Interest expense1
(49)
Income (loss) before income taxes (92)
Income tax expense (benefit)1
(14)
Net income (loss) (78)
Add back:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 155 12 - 167
Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 7 - - 7
Loss on impairment of licenses 136 - - 136
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 4 - - 4
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (2) - - (2)
Interest expense1
49
Income tax expense (benefit)1
(14)
Adjusted EBITDA2
$ 191 $ 31 $ - $ 269
Investments in unconsolidated entities1
$ 478
Total assets3
$ 10,516
Capital expenditures $ 114 $ 6 $ - $ 120
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Three Months Ended or as of September 30, 2023 Wireless Towers Intra-company eliminations UScellular Total
(Dollars in millions)
Operating revenues
Service $ 737 $ 57 $ (32) $ 762
Equipment and product sales 201 - - 201
Total operating revenues 938 57 (32) 963
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 199 18 (32) 185
Cost of equipment and products 228 - - 228
Selling, general and administrative 324 9 - 333
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 148 11 - 159
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 1 - - 1
Operating income 38 19 - 57
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities1
40
Interest and dividend income1
3
Interest expense1
(50)
Income before income taxes 50
Income tax expense1
27
Net income 23
Add back:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 148 11 - 159
Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 3 - - 3
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 1 - - 1
Interest expense1
50
Income tax expense1
27
Adjusted EBITDA2
$ 190 $ 30 $ - $ 263
Investments in unconsolidated entities1
$ 477
Total assets3
$ 10,749
Capital expenditures $ 106 $ 5 $ - $ 111
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Nine Months Ended or as of September 30, 2024 Wireless Towers Intra-company eliminations UScellular Total
(Dollars in millions)
Operating revenues
Service $ 2,168 $ 175 $ (98) $ 2,245
Equipment and product sales 554 - - 554
Total operating revenues 2,722 175 (98) 2,799
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 582 58 (98) 542
Cost of equipment and products 630 - - 630
Selling, general and administrative 953 24 - 977
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 466 33 - 499
Loss on impairment of licenses 136 - - 136
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 13 1 - 14
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net 4 - - 4
Operating income (loss) (62) 59 - (3)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities1
123
Interest and dividend income1
9
Interest expense1
(137)
Income (loss) before income taxes (8)
Income tax expense (benefit)1
29
Net income (loss) (37)
Add back:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 466 33 - 499
Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 26 2 - 28
Loss on impairment of licenses 136 - - 136
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 13 1 - 14
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net 4 - - 4
Interest expense1
137
Income tax expense (benefit)1
29
Adjusted EBITDA2
$ 583 $ 95 $ - $ 810
Capital expenditures $ 400 $ 15 $ - $ 415
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Nine Months Ended or as of September 30, 2023 Wireless Towers Intra-company eliminations UScellular Total
(Dollars in millions)
Operating revenues
Service $ 2,214 $ 170 $ (95) $ 2,289
Equipment and product sales 617 - - 617
Total operating revenues 2,831 170 (95) 2,906
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 597 55 (95) 557
Cost of equipment and products 708 - - 708
Selling, general and administrative 995 25 - 1,020
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 456 34 - 490
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 14 - - 14
Operating income 61 56 - 117
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities1
121
Interest and dividend income1
8
Interest expense1
(147)
Income before income taxes 99
Income tax expense1
56
Net income 43
Add back:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 456 34 - 490
Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 3 - - 3
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 14 - - 14
Interest expense1
147
Income tax expense1
56
Adjusted EBITDA2
$ 534 $ 90 $ - $ 753
Capital expenditures $ 452 $ 10 $ - $ 462
1Income and expense items below Operating income are not provided at the individual segment level for Wireless and Towers. These items are not included in the evaluation of operating performance of the segments, and therefore are reported for "UScellular Total".
2Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion (Adjusted EBITDA) is a segment measure reported to the chief operating decision maker for purposes of assessing the segments' performance. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income, adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation above. UScellular believes Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure of UScellular's operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, gains and losses, and other items as presented above as it provides additional relevant and useful information to investors and other users of UScellular's financial data in evaluating the effectiveness of its operations and underlying business trends in a manner that is consistent with management's evaluation of business performance.
3Assets are not provided at the individual segment level for Wireless and Towers. The segments operate under a common capital structure, and management has historically considered its assets collectively as part of a combined wireless network.
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United States Cellular Corporation
Additional Required Information
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
UScellular maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is processed, recorded, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to UScellular's management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.
As required by SEC Rules 13a-15(b), UScellular carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of UScellular's disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. Based on this evaluation, UScellular's principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that UScellular's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2024, at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in internal controls over financial reporting that have occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2024, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, UScellular's internal control over financial reporting.
Legal Proceedings
On May 2, 2023, a putative stockholder class action was filed against TDS and UScellular and certain current and former officers and directors in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. An Amended Complaint was filed on September 1, 2023, which names TDS, UScellular, and certain current UScellular officers and directors as defendants, and alleges that certain public statements made between May 6, 2022 and November 3, 2022 (the potential class period) regarding, among other things, UScellular's business strategies to address subscriber demand, violated Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The plaintiff seeks to represent a class of stockholders who purchased TDS equity securities during the potential class period and demands unspecified monetary damages.
On June 18, 2024, a stockholder derivative lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Chancery Division against UScellular, certain TDS and UScellular directors and officers, and nominal defendant TDS. The derivative lawsuit takes issue with the same public statements made between May 6, 2022 and November 3, 2022, alleging that the fact that the statements were made was a breach of fiduciary duty on the part of the officer and director defendants, and bringing claims for indemnification and contribution against the officer and director defendants and UScellular. In addition to indemnification and contribution, the plaintiff seeks money damages and the implementation of certain governance proposals.
UScellular is unable at this time to determine whether the outcome of these actions would have a material impact on its results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows. UScellular intends to contest plaintiffs' claims vigorously on the merits.
Refer to the disclosure under Legal Proceedings in UScellular's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, for additional information. Other than as described above, there have been no material changes to such information since December 31, 2023.
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Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
In November 2009, UScellular announced by Form 8-K that the Board of Directors of UScellular authorized the repurchase of up to 1,300,000 additional Common Shares on an annual basis beginning in 2009 and continuing each year thereafter, on a cumulative basis. In December 2016, the UScellular Board amended this authorization to provide that, beginning on January 1, 2017, the increase in the authorized repurchase amount with respect to a particular year will be any amount from zero to 1,300,000 Common Shares, as determined by the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors, and that if the Pricing Committee did not specify an additional amount for any year, such additional amount would be zero for such year. The Pricing Committee has not specified any increase in the authorization since that time. The Pricing Committee also was authorized to decrease the cumulative amount of the authorization at any time, but has not taken any action to do so at this time. The authorization provides that share repurchases will be made pursuant to open market purchases, block purchases in compliance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act or Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act, or pursuant to accelerated share repurchase arrangements, prepaid share repurchases, private purchases, or otherwise, depending on market prices and other conditions. This authorization does not have an expiration date. UScellular did not determine to terminate the foregoing Common Share repurchase program, as amended, or cease making further purchases thereunder, during the third quarter of 2024.
The following table provides certain information with respect to all purchases made by or on behalf of UScellular, and any open market purchases made by any "affiliated purchaser" (as defined by the SEC) of UScellular, of UScellular Common Shares during the quarter covered by this Form 10-Q.The purchases below were made under a Rule 10b5-1 stock repurchase plan.
Period Total Number of Shares Purchased Average Price Paid per Share Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1 - 31, 2024 162,963 $ 55.56 162,963 1,763,978
August 1 - 31, 2024 162,964 $ 53.19 162,964 1,601,014
September 1 - 30, 2024 148,147 $ 56.17 148,147 1,452,867
Total for or as of the end of the quarter ended September 30, 2024 474,074 $ 54.94 474,074 1,452,867
Other Information
Executive Severance Policy
On October 29, 2024, UScellular adopted a cash severance policy applicable to its executive officers (the "Executive Severance Policy") that makes them eligible to receive severance pay in the event that their employment is terminated as a result of an "involuntary separation without cause." In that event, subject to their execution and non-revocation of a release of claims in favor of UScellular and its parent and affiliates, they will be entitled to receive severance pay in a lump sum cash payment equal to one year of base pay at the time of separation. The Executive Severance Policy also provides UScellular with the discretion to provide the executive officers with additional benefits (e.g., prorated annual bonuses). The current executive officers subject to this policy are Douglas Chambers, Kevin Lowell and Michael Irizarry. Laurent Therivel's compensation agreement, which addresses severance and has been previously disclosed, overrides the Executive Severance Policy in the event an involuntary termination of his employment.
For purposes of the Executive Severance Policy, an "involuntary separation without cause" is defined as the elimination of the executive officer's position due to a strategic organizational change, such as a reduction in force, outsourcing or other restructuring where such executive officer has not been offered a position that is similar and/or comparably compensated with UScellular or with a new functional owner (whether or not such owner is affiliated with UScellular). If the executive officer accepts a similar position with the parent or an affiliate of UScellular that remains part of the same controlled group as Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., the executive officer will be eligible for severance under and subject to the terms of the Executive Severance Policy if their employment is involuntarily terminated within one year following the change of employer.
The Executive Severance Policy can be modified, altered or terminated at the Chairman's discretion at any time for any reason.
The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Executive Severance Policy, attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangements
During the three months ended September 30, 2024, none of UScellular's directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) has adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or a non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (each as defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K under the 1934 Act).
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Exhibits
Exhibit Number
Description of Documents
Exhibit 10.1
Executive Severance Policy.
Exhibit 31.1
Principal executive officer certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Exhibit 31.2
Principal financial officer certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Exhibit 32.1
Principal executive officer certification pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
Exhibit 32.2
Principal financial officer certification pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
Exhibit 101.INS XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
Exhibit 101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
Exhibit 101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document
Exhibit 101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document
Exhibit 101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document
Exhibit 101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
Exhibit 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline document.
*Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, certain exhibits, schedules and similar attachments have been omitted; exhibits, schedules and other attachments will be provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
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Table of Contents
Form 10-Q Cross Reference Index
Item Number
Page No.
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
28 - 32
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
36 - 45
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
1 - 22
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
27
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
49
Part II. Other Information
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
49
Item1A.
Risk Factors
25
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
50
Item 5.
Other Information
50
Item 6.
Exhibits
51
Signatures
53
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Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date: November 1, 2024 /s/ Laurent C. Therivel
Laurent C. Therivel
President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
Date: November 1, 2024 /s/ Douglas W. Chambers
Douglas W. Chambers
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(principal financial officer)
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