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UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
NOTE 9 LICENSES AND GOODWILL
Changes in U.S. Cellular’s licenses and goodwill are presented below. See Note 8—Acquisitions,
Divestitures and Exchanges for information regarding transactions which affected licenses and goodwill
during the periods.
Licenses
Year Ended December 31, 2009 2008
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year ......................... $1,433,415 $1,482,446
Acquisitions .................................. 15,750 337,622
Impairments .................................. (14,000) (386,653)
Other ....................................... (165) —
Balance, end of year ............................. $1,435,000 $1,433,415
Goodwill
Year Ended December 31, 2009 2008
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year ........................... $494,279 $491,316
Accumulated impairment losses ...................... — —
494,279 491,316
Acquisitions ..................................... — 2,963
Other ......................................... 458 —
Balance, end of year ................................ 494,737 494,279
Accumulated impairment losses ...................... — —
$494,737 $494,279
See Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements for a
description of accounting policies related to licenses and goodwill.
2009 Impairment Assessment
In 2009, U.S. Cellular completed the required annual impairment assessment of its licenses and goodwill
in the fourth quarter. The assessment resulted in no impairment of goodwill and an impairment loss of
$14.0 million on licenses. The entire impairment loss relates to licenses in developed operating markets
(built licenses).
2008 Impairment Assessment
In 2008, U.S. Cellular completed the required annual impairment assessment of its licenses and goodwill
as of April 1. As a result of the deterioration in the credit and financial markets and the decline of the
overall economy in the fourth quarter of 2008, U.S. Cellular performed an interim impairment assessment
of licenses and goodwill as of December 31, 2008. The assessment resulted in no impairment of
goodwill and an impairment loss of $386.7 million on licenses. Of the $386.7 million, $330.6 million
relates to licenses in developed operating markets (built licenses) and $56.1 million relates to licenses
that are not being utilized (unbuilt licenses).
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