TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/

TDS prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. TDS’ significant accounting policies are discussed in detail in Note 1 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements, Note 3 — Revenue Recognition and Note 11 — Leases in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Management believes the application of the following critical accounting policies and the estimates required by such application reflect its most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of TDS’ consolidated financial statements.

Wireless Spectrum License Impairment – Array

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 Array 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.

During the third quarter of 2025, Array continued its efforts to monetize its spectrum assets not subject to pending sale agreements. Based on information obtained through that process, specifically suppressed pricing and decrease in demand for high-band spectrum, Array concluded that there were events and circumstances in the third quarter of 2025 that caused Array to believe the carrying value of one of the units of accounting for remaining spectrum not subject to a pending sale agreement may exceed its respective fair value (i.e., triggering event), and accordingly a quantitative impairment assessment was performed for that unit.

A market approach was used for purposes of the quantitative impairment assessment to value the wireless spectrum licenses for the high-band unit of accounting tested, selecting a point within a range of values established largely through industry benchmarks, FCC auction data, and precedent transactions. The fair value of the wireless spectrum licenses was less than the respective carrying value, and a $47.7 million impairment was recorded to Loss on impairment of licenses for continuing operations in the Consolidated Statement of Operations during the third quarter of 2025. The impairment loss was 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 $113.4 million after the impairment loss. The impairment loss is driven by lower fair value attributed to high-band spectrum as a result of industry-wide challenges encountered related to the operationalization of this spectrum.

For purposes of its annual impairment test as of November 1, 2025, Array performed a qualitative test for all seven of its units of accounting. The test considered several factors, including the results of the quantitative impairment assessment performed in the third quarter of 2025 as well as purchase prices of executed agreements to sell certain wireless spectrum licenses and other market factors. Based on these assessments, Array concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair value of each unit of accounting exceeded its respective carrying value. Therefore, no quantitative impairment evaluation was completed.

During the third quarter of 2024, Array concluded that there were events and circumstances that caused Array to believe the carrying values of five 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.

Based on a market approach 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 $136.2 million impairment was recorded to Loss on impairment of licenses for continuing operations in the Consolidated Statement of Operations 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 $161.1 million after the impairment loss. The impairment loss was driven by a 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.

For purposes of its annual impairment test as of November 1, 2024, Array performed a qualitative test for all twelve of its units of accounting. The test considered several factors, including the results of the quantitative impairment assessment performed in the third quarter of 2024 as well as purchase prices of executed agreements to sell certain wireless spectrum licenses and other market factors. Based on these assessments, Array concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair value of each unit of accounting exceeded its respective carrying value. Therefore, no quantitative impairment evaluation was completed.

Income Taxes

The amounts of income tax assets and liabilities, the related income tax provision and the amount of unrecognized tax benefits are critical accounting estimates because such amounts are significant to TDS’ financial condition and results of operations.

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires TDS to calculate a provision for income taxes. This process involves estimating the actual current income tax liability together with assessing temporary differences resulting from the different treatment of items for tax purposes. These temporary differences result in deferred income tax assets and liabilities which are included on a net basis in TDS’ Consolidated Balance Sheet. TDS must then assess the likelihood that deferred income tax assets will be realized based on future taxable income and, to the extent management believes that realization is not likely, establish a valuation allowance. Management’s judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes, deferred income tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance that is established for deferred income tax assets.

TDS recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on management’s judgment as to the possible outcome that has a greater than 50% cumulative likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution.

See Note 5 — Income Taxes in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.