Metro PCS 2007 Annual Report Download - page 114

MetroPCS Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
F-15
Asset Retirement Obligations
The Company accounts for asset retirement obligations as determined by SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset
Retirement Obligations,” (“SFAS No. 143”) and FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset
Retirement Obligations, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143,” (“FIN No. 47”). SFAS No. 143 and
FIN No. 47 address financial accounting and reporting for legal obligations associated with the retirement of
tangible long-lived assets and the related asset retirement costs. SFAS No. 143 requires that companies recognize
the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred. When the liability
is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes a cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset.
Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the
estimated useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, an entity either settles the obligation for its
recorded amount or incurs a gain or loss upon settlement.
The Company is subject to asset retirement obligations associated with its cell site operating leases, which are
subject to the provisions of SFAS No. 143 and FIN No. 47. Cell site lease agreements may contain clauses requiring
restoration of the leased site at the end of the lease term to its original condition, creating an asset retirement
obligation. This liability is classified under other long-term liabilities. Landlords may choose not to exercise these
rights as cell sites are considered useful improvements. In addition to cell site operating leases, the Company has
leases related to switch site, retail, and administrative locations subject to the provisions of SFAS No. 143 and
FIN No. 47.
The following table summarizes the Company’ s asset retirement obligation transactions (in thousands):
2007 2006
Beginning asset retirement obligations................................................................................ $ 6,685 $ 3,522
Liabilities incurred .............................................................................................................. 6,929 2,394
Reductions........................................................................................................................... (755)
—
Accretion expense ............................................................................................................... 1,439 769
Ending asset retirement obligations..................................................................................... $ 14,298 $ 6,685
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) are based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for
the period. Diluted EPS is computed in the same manner as EPS after assuming issuance of common stock for all
potentially dilutive equivalent shares, whether exercisable or not.
The Series D Preferred Stock and Series E Preferred Stock (collectively, the “preferred stock”) are participating
securities, such that in the event a dividend is declared or paid on the common stock, the Company must
simultaneously declare and pay a dividend on the preferred stock as if they had been converted into common stock.
In accordance with EITF Issue 03-6, “Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement
No. 128,” (“EITF 03-6”), the preferred stock is considered a “participating security” for purposes of computing
earnings or loss per common share and, therefore, the preferred stock is included in the computation of basic and
diluted earnings per common share using the two-class method, except during periods of net losses. When
determining basic earnings per common share under EITF 03-6, undistributed earnings for a period are allocated to a
participating security based on the contractual participation rights of the security to share in those earnings as if all
of the earnings for the period had been distributed (See Note 17).
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” (“SFAS No. 157”), which
defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP and expands disclosure about fair
value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim
periods within those fiscal years. However, in February 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-6 which delayed the
effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are
recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). The FSP
partially defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim