AT&T Inc. (T)

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, except for assets acquired using acquisition accounting, which are initially recorded at fair value. The cost of additions and substantial improvements to property, plant and equipment is capitalized, and includes internal compensation costs for these projects; however, noncash actuarial gains or losses included in compensation costs are excluded from amounts reported as "capital expenditures." The cost of maintenance and repairs of property, plant and equipment is charged to operating expenses. Property, plant and equipment costs are depreciated using straight-line methods over their estimated economic lives. Certain subsidiaries follow composite group depreciation methodology. Accordingly, when a portion of their depreciable property, plant and equipment is retired in the ordinary course of business, the gross book value is reclassified to accumulated depreciation, and no gain or loss is recognized on the disposition of these assets.

Property, plant and equipment is reviewed for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable. AT&T recognizes an impairment loss when the carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not recoverable. The carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset.

The liability for the fair value of an asset retirement obligation is recorded in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. In periods subsequent to initial measurement, AT&T recognizes period-to-period changes in the liability resulting from the passage of time and revisions to either the timing or the amount of the original estimate. The increase in the carrying value of the associated long-lived asset is depreciated over the corresponding estimated economic life.

Software Costs

AT&T capitalizes certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining internal-use software. Capitalized software costs are included in "Property, Plant and Equipment" on AT&T’s consolidated balance sheets. In addition, there is certain network software that allows the equipment to provide the features and functions unique to the AT&T network, which AT&T includes in the cost of the equipment categories for financial reporting purposes.

AT&T amortize the capitalized software costs over a three-year to five-year period, reflecting the estimated period during which these assets will remain in service, which also aligns with the estimated useful lives used in the industry.

Source: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-20).

AT&T Inc., Statement of Financial Position, Property, Plant and Equipment

USD $ in millions

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-20), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-17), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-18), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-20), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-21).

Item	Description	The company
Property, plant and equipment, gross	Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.	AT&T Inc.’s property, plant and equipment, gross increased from 2015 to 2016 but then slightly declined from 2016 to 2017.
Property, plant and equipment, net	Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.	AT&T Inc.’s property, plant and equipment, net increased from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.

AT&T Inc., Property, Plant and Equipment Ratios

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-20), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-17), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-18), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-20), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-21).

Ratio	Description	The company
Average age	As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company’s fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient.	AT&T Inc.’s average age of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2015 to 2016 but then improved from 2016 to 2017 not reaching 2015 level.
Estimated total useful life	Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company’s depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors.	AT&T Inc.’s estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 not reaching 2015 level.
Estimated time elapsed since purchase	The approximate age in years of a company’s fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes.	AT&T Inc.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.
Estimated remaining life		AT&T Inc.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 not reaching 2015 level.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-20), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-17), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-18), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-20), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-21).

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Average age	As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company’s fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient.	AT&T Inc.’s average age of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2015 to 2016 but then improved from 2016 to 2017 not reaching 2015 level.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-20), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-17), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-18), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-20), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-21).

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Estimated total useful life	Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company’s depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors.	AT&T Inc.’s estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 not reaching 2015 level.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-20), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-17), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-18), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-20), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-21).

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Estimated time elapsed since purchase	The approximate age in years of a company’s fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes.	AT&T Inc.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017.

Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-20), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-17), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-18), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-20), 10-K (filing date: 2014-02-21).

2017 Calculations

Ratio	Description	The company
Estimated remaining life		AT&T Inc.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 not reaching 2015 level.