UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________
FORM 10-Q
______________
(Mark One)
(Mark One)
x☒QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021
or
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017
or
o☐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: 001-33664
chtr-20210331_g1.jpg
Charter Communications, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware84-1496755
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)No.)
400 Atlantic Street
Stamford, Connecticut 06901
Stamford(203) 905-7801Connecticut06901
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)Principal Executive Offices)(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)Zip Code)

(203) 905-7801
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock $.001 Par ValueCHTRNASDAQ Global Select Market

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 x No o


Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have submitted electronically and posted on their corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer x    Accelerated filer o    Non-accelerated filer oSmaller reporting company o☐ Emerging growth company o☐ 


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. o


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o ☐ No x


Number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2017: 248,610,434March 31, 2021: 188,666,160


Number of shares of Class B common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2017:March 31, 2021: 1







chtr-20210331_g1.jpg
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2017MARCH 31, 2021


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
1
for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 20162020
2
for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 20162020
3
for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 20162020
4
5
3322
5135
5235
5336
5336
5336
Exhibits36
53
S-1
E-1


This quarterly report on Form 10-Q is for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.March 31, 2021. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you directly to those documents. In this quarterly report, “Charter,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Charter Communications, Inc. and its subsidiaries.



i



CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS


This quarterly report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial including, without limitation, the forward-looking statements set forth in the “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity and Capital Resources” sections under Part I, Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this quarterly report. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations as reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, the factors described under “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A of our most recent Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this quarterly report may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “will,” “may,” “intend,” “estimated,” “aim,” “on track,” “target,” “opportunity,” “tentative,” “positioning,” “designed,” “create,” “predict,” “project,” “initiatives,” “seek,” “would,” “could,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “upside,” “increases”“increases,” “focused on” and “potential,” among others. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this quarterly report are set forth in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, in our annual report on Form 10-K, and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to:


our ability to promptly, efficiently and effectively integrate acquired operations;
•our ability to sustain and grow revenues and cash flow from operations by offering Internet, video, Internet, voice, mobile, advertising and other services to residential and commercial customers, to adequately meet the customer experience demands in our marketsservice areas and to maintain and grow our customer base, particularly in the face of increasingly aggressive competition, the need for innovation and the related capital expenditures;
•the impact of competition from other market participants, including but not limited to incumbent telephone companies, direct broadcast satellite ("DBS") operators, wireless broadband and telephone providers, digital subscriber line (“DSL”) providers, fiber to the home providers video provided over the Internet by (i) market participants that have not historically competed in the multichannel video business, (ii) traditional multichannel video distributors, and (iii) content providers that have historically licensed cable networks to multichannel video distributors, and providers of advertisingvideo content over the Internet;broadband Internet connections;
•general business conditions, economic uncertainty or downturn, unemployment levels and the level of activity in the housing sector;sector and economic uncertainty or downturn, including the impacts of the Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic to our customers, our vendors and local, state and federal governmental responses to the pandemic;
•our ability to obtain programming at reasonable prices or to raise prices to offset, in whole or in part, the effects of higher programming costs (including retransmission consents)consents and distribution requirements);
•
our ability to develop and deploy new products and technologies including wireless products, our cloud-based user interface, Spectrum Guide®, and downloadable security for set-top boxes, and any other cloud-based consumer services and service platforms;
•our ability to develop and deploy new products and technologies including mobile products and any other consumer services and service platforms;
•any events that disrupt our networks, information systems or properties and impair our operating activities or our reputation;
•the effects of governmental regulation on our business or potential business combination transactions including subsidies to consumers, subsidies and incentives for competitors, costs, disruptions and possible limitations on operating flexibility related to, and our ability to comply with, regulatory conditions applicable to us as a result of the Time Warner Cable Inc. and Bright House Networks, LLC Transactions;us;
any events that disrupt our networks, information systems or properties and impair our operating activities or our reputation;
•the ability to retainhire and hireretain key personnel;
•the availability and access, in general, of funds to meet our debt obligations prior to or when they become due and to fund our operations and necessary capital expenditures, either through (i) cash on hand, (ii) free cash flow, or (iii) access to the capital or credit markets; and
•our ability to comply with all covenants in our indentures and credit facilities, any violation of which, if not cured in a timely manner, could trigger a default of our other obligations under cross-default provisions.


All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We are under no duty or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this quarterly report.



ii



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.


CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in millions, except share data)
March 31,
2021		December 31,
2020
(unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents$772 $1,001 
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $173 and $217, respectively2,395 2,539 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets496 369 
Total current assets3,663 3,909 
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES:
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $32,587 and $31,639, respectively34,184 34,357 
Customer relationships, net5,185 5,615 
Franchises67,322 67,322 
Goodwill29,554 29,554 
Total investment in cable properties, net136,245 136,848 
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS3,531 3,449 
Total assets$143,439 $144,206 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities$8,911 $8,867 
Current portion of long-term debt1,005 1,008 
Total current liabilities9,916 9,875 
LONG-TERM DEBT83,882 81,744 
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES18,227 18,108 
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES4,233 4,198 
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Class A common stock; $0.001 par value; 900 million shares authorized;
194,816,856 and 193,730,992 shares issued, respectively0 0 
Class B common stock; $0.001 par value; 1,000 shares authorized;
1 share issued and outstanding0 0 
Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 250 million shares authorized;
0 shares issued and outstanding
0 0 
Additional paid-in capital29,037 29,000 
Retained earnings(4,388)(5,195)
Treasury stock at cost; 6,150,696 and 0 shares, respectively(3,652)0 
Total Charter shareholders’ equity20,997 23,805 
Noncontrolling interests6,184 6,476 
Total shareholders’ equity27,181 30,281 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$143,439 $144,206 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
1
 September 30,
2017		 December 31,
2016
 (unaudited)  
ASSETS   
CURRENT ASSETS:   
Cash and cash equivalents$2,164
 $1,535
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of   
$103 and $124, respectively1,652
 1,432
Prepaid expenses and other current assets316
 333
Total current assets4,132
 3,300
    
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES:   
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated   
depreciation of $16,375 and $11,103, respectively33,300
 32,963
Customer relationships, net12,589
 14,608
Franchises67,316
 67,316
Goodwill29,554
 29,509
Total investment in cable properties, net142,759
 144,396
    
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS1,337
 1,371
    
Total assets$148,228
 $149,067
    
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   
CURRENT LIABILITIES:   
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities$8,351
 $7,544
Current portion of long-term debt2,068
 2,028
Total current liabilities10,419
 9,572
    
LONG-TERM DEBT66,064
 59,719
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES26,576
 26,665
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES2,591
 2,745
    
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:   
Class A common stock; $.001 par value; 900 million shares authorized;   
271,017,357 and 268,897,792 shares issued, respectively—
 —
Class B common stock; $.001 par value; 1,000 shares authorized;   
1 share issued and outstanding—
 —
Preferred stock; $.001 par value; 250 million shares authorized;   
no shares issued and outstanding—
 —
Additional paid-in capital39,773
 39,413
Retained earnings1,206
 733
Treasury stock at cost; 22,406,923 and no shares, respectively(7,748) —
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(2) (7)
Total Charter shareholders’ equity33,229
 40,139
Noncontrolling interests9,349
 10,227
Total shareholders’ equity42,578
 50,366
    
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$148,228
 $149,067



CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(dollars in millions, except per share data)
Unaudited
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
REVENUES$10,458
 $10,037
 $30,979
 $18,728
        
COSTS AND EXPENSES:       
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below)6,703
 6,482
 19,857
 12,157
Depreciation and amortization2,701
 2,437
 7,846
 4,412
Other operating expenses, net145
 207
 374
 776
 9,549
 9,126
 28,077
 17,345
Income from operations909
 911
 2,902
 1,383
        
OTHER EXPENSES:       
Interest expense, net(788) (724) (2,250) (1,771)
Loss on extinguishment of debt—
 —
 (35) (110)
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net17
 71
 (15) 16
Other pension benefits (costs)(17) 13
 9
 533
Other expense, net(3) (5) (14) (10)
 (791) (645) (2,305) (1,342)
        
Income before income taxes118
 266
 597
 41
Income tax benefit (expense)(26) (16) (99) 3,135
Consolidated net income92
 250
 498
 3,176
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests(44) (61) (156) (108)
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders$48
 $189
 $342
 $3,068
        
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHARTER SHAREHOLDERS:       
Basic$0.19
 $0.70
 $1.31
 $16.52
Diluted$0.19
 $0.69
 $1.29
 $15.23
        
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic253,923,805
 271,263,259
 262,074,603
 185,706,106
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted258,341,851
 275,373,202
 266,363,602
 208,460,148


Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
REVENUES$12,522 $11,738 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below)7,711 7,432 
Depreciation and amortization2,441 2,497 
Other operating expenses, net302 7 
10,454 9,936 
Income from operations2,068 1,802 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):
Interest expense, net(983)(980)
Other income (expenses), net52 (326)
(931)(1,306)
Income before income taxes1,137 496 
Income tax expense(216)(29)
Consolidated net income921 467 
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests(114)(71)
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders$807 $396 
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHARTER SHAREHOLDERS:
Basic$4.22 $1.91 
Diluted$4.11 $1.86 
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic191,404,527 207,831,305 
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted205,872,536 212,810,613 



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
2

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOMECHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited
Class A Common StockClass B Common StockAdditional Paid-in CapitalRetained EarningsTreasury StockTotal Charter Shareholders’ EquityNon-controlling InterestsTotal Shareholders’ Equity
BALANCE, December 31, 2020$0 $0 $29,000 $(5,195)$0 $23,805 $6,476 $30,281 
Consolidated net income0 0 0 807 0 807 114 921 
Stock compensation expense0 0 134 0 0 134 0 134 
Exercise of stock options0 0 9 0 0 9 0 9 
Purchases of treasury stock0 0 0 0 (3,652)(3,652)0 (3,652)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax0 0 (237)0 0 (237)(192)(429)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax0 0 131 0 0 131 (175)(44)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest0 0 0 0 0 0 (39)(39)
BALANCE, March 31, 2021$0 $0 $29,037 $(4,388)$(3,652)$20,997 $6,184 $27,181 

Class A Common StockClass B Common StockAdditional Paid-in CapitalRetained EarningsTreasury StockTotal Charter Shareholders’ EquityNon-controlling InterestsTotal Shareholders’ Equity
BALANCE, December 31, 2019$0 $0 $31,405 $40 $0 $31,445 $7,366 $38,811 
Consolidated net income0 0 0 396 0 396 71 467 
Stock compensation expense0 0 90 0 0 90 0 90 
Exercise of stock options0 0 93 0 0 93 0 93 
Issuance of equity0 0 23 0 0 23 0 23 
Purchases of treasury stock0 0 0 0 (2,352)(2,352)0 (2,352)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of tax0 0 (149)0 0 (149)(195)(344)
Change in noncontrolling interest ownership, net of tax0 0 82 0 0 82 (109)(27)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest0 0 0 0 0 0 (39)(39)
BALANCE, March 31, 2020$0 $0 $31,544 $436 $(2,352)$29,628 $7,094 $36,722 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
3
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Consolidated net income$92
 $250
 $498
 $3,176
Net impact of interest rate derivative instruments1
 2
 4
 6
Foreign currency translation adjustment1
 (1) 1
 (1)
Consolidated comprehensive income94
 251
 503
 3,181
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests(44) (61) (156) (108)
Comprehensive income attributable to Charter shareholders$50
 $190
 $347
 $3,073



CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited
Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Consolidated net income$921 $467 
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization2,441 2,497 
Stock compensation expense134 90 
Noncash interest income, net(7)(12)
Deferred income taxes156 (14)
Other, net(5)315 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts receivable144 99 
Prepaid expenses and other assets(182)(67)
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other149 (155)
Net cash flows from operating activities3,751 3,220 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment(1,821)(1,461)
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures(75)(388)
Real estate investments through variable interest entities(50)(38)
Other, net(10)37 
Net cash flows from investing activities(1,956)(1,850)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings of long-term debt5,289 4,339 
Repayments of long-term debt(3,164)(3,589)
Payments for debt issuance costs(22)(41)
Issuance of equity0 23 
Purchase of treasury stock(3,652)(2,352)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options9 93 
Purchase of noncontrolling interest(507)(393)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest(39)(39)
Borrowings for real estate investments through variable interest entities50 0 
Other, net12 (24)
Net cash flows from financing activities(2,024)(1,983)
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS(229)(613)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period1,001 3,549 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period$772 $2,936 
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST$1,017 $1,050 
CASH PAID FOR TAXES$20 $19 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
4
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2017 2016
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:    
Consolidated net income $498
 $3,176
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flows from operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization 7,846
 4,412
Stock compensation expense 198
 168
Accelerated vesting of equity awards 43
 202
Noncash interest income, net (283) (148)
Other pension benefits (9) (533)
Loss on extinguishment of debt 35
 110
(Gain) loss on financial instruments, net 15
 (16)
Deferred income taxes 53
 (3,170)
Other, net 93
 —
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:    
Accounts receivable (101) (2)
Prepaid expenses and other assets 37
 85
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other 271
 531
Net cash flows from operating activities 8,696
 4,815
     
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:    
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (6,096) (3,437)
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures 276
 86
Purchases of cable systems, net of cash acquired —
 (28,810)
Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents —
 22,264
Other, net (63) (8)
Net cash flows from investing activities (5,883) (9,905)
     
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Borrowings of long-term debt 12,115
 5,997
Repayments of long-term debt (5,534) (4,120)
Payments for debt issuance costs (83) (283)
Issuance of equity —
 5,000
Purchase of treasury stock (7,748) (448)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 111
 71
Purchase of noncontrolling interest (922) —
Distributions to noncontrolling interest (115) (55)
Proceeds from termination of interest rate derivatives —
 88
Other, net (8) —
Net cash flows from financing activities (2,184) 6,250
     
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 629
 1,160
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period 1,535
 5
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period $2,164
 $1,165
     
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST $2,544
 $1,964
CASH PAID FOR TAXES $38
 $48



CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)





1.    Organization and Basis of Presentation


Organization


Charter Communications, Inc. (together with its controlled subsidiaries, “Charter,” or the “Company”) is the second largest cable operator in the United States and a leading broadband communicationsconnectivity company providing video, Internet and voice services tocable operator. Over an advanced high-capacity, two-way telecommunications network, the Company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business customers. In addition,services including Spectrum Internet, TV, Mobile and Voice. For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business® delivers the Company sells videosame suite of broadband products and onlineservices coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach® delivers tailored advertising inventory to local, regional and national advertising customers and fiber-delivered communications and managed information technology solutions to larger enterprise customers.production for the modern media landscape. The Company also ownsdistributes award-winning news coverage, sports and operates regional sports networkshigh-quality original programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks and local sports, news and lifestyle channels and sells security and home management services to the residential marketplace.Spectrum Originals.


Charter is a holding company whose principal asset is a controlling equity interest in Charter Communications Holdings, LLC (“Charter Holdings”), an indirect owner of Charter Communications Operating, LLC (“Charter Operating”) under which substantially all of the operations reside. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated.


The Company’s operations are managed and reported to its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the Company’s chief operating decision maker, on a consolidated basis. The CEO assesses performance and allocates resources based on the consolidated results of operations. Under this organizational and reporting structure, the Company has one1 reportable segment, cable services.segment.


Basis of Presentation


The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures typically included in Charter’sthe Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted for this quarterly report. The accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited and are subject to review by regulatory authorities. However, in the opinion of management, such financial statements include all adjustments, which consist of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.


The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Areas involving significant judgments and estimates include capitalization of labor and overhead costs; depreciationcosts, impairments of franchises and amortization costs; purchase accounting valuations of assetsgoodwill, pension benefits and liabilities including, but not limited to, property, plant and equipment, intangibles and goodwill; pension benefits; income taxes; contingencies and programming expense.taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 20172021 presentation.

2.    Mergers and Acquisitions

The Transactions

On May 18, 2016, the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Mergers dated as of May 23, 2015 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Time Warner Cable Inc. (“Legacy TWC”), Charter Communications, Inc. prior to the closing of the Merger Agreement (“Legacy Charter”), CCH I, LLC, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of Legacy Charter and certain other subsidiaries of CCH I, LLC were completed (the “TWC Transaction,” and together with the Bright House Transaction described below, the “Transactions”). As a result of the TWC Transaction, CCH I, LLC became the new public parent company that holds the operations of the combined companies and was renamed Charter Communications, Inc. As of the date of completion of the Transactions, the total value of the TWC Transaction was approximately $85 billion, including cash, equity and Legacy TWC assumed debt.

Also, on May 18, 2016, Legacy Charter and Advance/Newhouse Partnership (“A/N”), the former parent of Bright House Networks, LLC (“Legacy Bright House”), completed their previously announced transaction, pursuant to a definitive Contribution Agreement




5


CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



(the “Contribution Agreement”), under which Charter acquired Legacy Bright House (the “Bright House Transaction”) for approximately $12.2 billion consisting of cash, convertible preferred units of Charter Holdings and common units of Charter Holdings. Pursuant to the Bright House Transaction, Charter became the owner of the membership interests in Legacy Bright House and the other assets primarily related to Legacy Bright House (other than certain excluded assets and liabilities and non-operating cash).

In connection with the TWC Transaction, Liberty Broadband purchased shares of Charter Class A common stock to partially finance the cash portion of the TWC Transaction consideration, and in connection with the Bright House Transaction, Liberty Broadband purchased shares of Charter Class A common stock (the “Liberty Transactions”).

Acquisition Accounting

Charter applied acquisition accounting to the Transactions. The total purchase price was allocated to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The fair values were primarily based on third-party valuations using assumptions developed by management and other information compiled by management including, but not limited to, future expected cash flows. The excess of the purchase price over those fair values was recorded as goodwill.

The tables below present the final allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Transactions.

TWC Allocation of Purchase Price

Cash and cash equivalents$1,058
Current assets1,417
Property, plant and equipment21,413
Customer relationships13,460
Franchises54,085
Goodwill28,337
Other noncurrent assets1,040
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities(4,107)
Debt(24,900)
Deferred income taxes(28,120)
Other long-term liabilities(3,162)
Noncontrolling interests(4)
 $60,517

The Company made measurement period adjustments to the fair value of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the TWC Transaction during the six months ended June 30, 2017 upon completion of the measurement period, including a decrease to working capital of $73 million and a decrease of $28 million to deferred income tax liabilities, resulting in a net increase of $45 million to goodwill.



6

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)


Bright House Allocation of Purchase Price

Current assets$131
Property, plant and equipment2,884
Customer relationships2,150
Franchises7,225
Goodwill44
Other noncurrent assets86
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities(330)
Other long-term liabilities(12)
Noncontrolling interests(22)
 $12,156

Selected Pro Forma Financial Information

The following unaudited pro forma financial information of the Company is based on the historical consolidated financial statements of Legacy Charter, Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House and is intended to provide information about how the Transactions and related financing may have affected the Company’s historical consolidated financial statements if they had closed as of January 1, 2015. The pro forma financial information below is based on available information and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable. The pro forma financial information is for illustrative and informational purposes only and is not intended to represent or be indicative of what the Company’s financial condition or results of operations would have been had the transactions described above occurred on the date indicated. The pro forma financial information also should not be considered representative of the Company’s future financial condition or results of operations.

 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Revenues$29,748
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders$616
Earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders: 
Basic$2.28
Diluted$2.25



7

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)


3.2.    Franchises, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets


Indefinite-lived and finite-lived intangible assets consist of the following as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2016:2020:


March 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Gross Carrying AmountAccumulated AmortizationNet Carrying AmountGross Carrying AmountAccumulated AmortizationNet Carrying Amount
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Franchises$67,322 $— $67,322 $67,322 $— $67,322 
Goodwill29,554 — 29,554 29,554 — 29,554 
Wireless spectrum licenses464 — 464 464 — 464 
Trademarks159 — 159 159 — 159 
$97,499 $— $97,499 $97,499 $— $97,499 
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Customer relationships$18,230 $(13,045)$5,185 $18,230 $(12,615)$5,615 
Other intangible assets420 (169)251 420 (159)261 
$18,650 $(13,214)$5,436 $18,650 $(12,774)$5,876 
  September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
  Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Carrying Amount
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:            
Franchises $67,316
 $—
 $67,316
 $67,316
 $—
 $67,316
Goodwill 29,554
 —
 29,554
 29,509
 —
 29,509
Trademarks 159
 —
 159
 159
 —
 159
Other intangible assets —
 —
 —
 4
 —
 4
  $97,029
 $—
 $97,029
 $96,988
 $—
 $96,988
             
Finite-lived intangible assets:            
Customer relationships $18,227
 $(5,638) $12,589
 $18,226
 $(3,618) $14,608
Other intangible assets 673
 (181) 492
 615
 (128) 487
  $18,900
 $(5,819) $13,081
 $18,841
 $(3,746) $15,095


Amortization expense related to customer relationships and other intangible assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $664$440 million and $2.1 billion, respectively, and was $748$508 million, and $1.2 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.
The Company expects amortization expense on its finite-lived intangible assets will be as follows:


Nine months ended December 31, 2021$1,162 
20221,332 
20231,075 
2024824 
2025575 
Thereafter468 
$5,436 
Three months ended December 31, 2017 $662
2018 2,470
2019 2,187
2020 1,895
2021 1,611
Thereafter 4,256
  $13,081


Actual amortization expense in future periods willcould differ from these estimates as a result of new intangible asset acquisitions or divestitures, changes in useful lives, impairments, adoption of new accounting standards and other relevant factors.



3.    Investments

Real Estate Investments through Variable Interest Entities

In July 2018, the Company entered into a build-to-suit lease arrangement with a single-asset special purpose entity ("SPE Building 1") to build the first building in the building complex for the new Charter headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. The SPE Building 1 obtained a first-lien mortgage note to finance the construction with fixed monthly payments through July 15, 2035 with a 5.612% coupon interest rate. All payments of the mortgage note are guaranteed by Charter. The initial term of the lease is 15 years commencing August 1, 2020, with no termination options. At the end of the lease term there is a mirrored put option for the SPE to sell the property to Charter and call option for Charter to purchase the property for a fixed purchase price.

In April 2020, the Company entered into a build-to-suit lease agreement with a second special purpose entity (“SPE Building 2”) to build the adjoining building and atrium, in the building complex for the new Charter headquarters. As of March 31, 2021, Charter does not guarantee the financing for SPE Building 2. The initial term of the lease is 15 years commencing February 26, 2022, with no termination options. At the end of the lease term there is a put option for the SPE Building 2 to sell the property to Charter for a fixed price. If SPE Building 2 does not exercise the put option and the Company exercises its first renewal term there is call option for Charter to purchase property for a fixed purchase price in year 3 of the first renewal term.


86


CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



As the Company has determined that SPE Building 1 and SPE Building 2 (collectively, the "SPEs") are variable interest entities ("VIEs") of which the Company became the primary beneficiary upon the effectiveness of the arrangements in July 2018 and April 2020, respectively, the Company has consolidated the assets and liabilities of the SPEs in its consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 as follows.

March 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Assets
Current assets$7 $3 
Property, plant and equipment$547 $490 
Liabilities
Current liabilities$41 $28 
Other long-term liabilities$522 $470 

Property, plant and equipment includes land, a parking garage and building construction costs, including the capitalization of qualifying interest. Other long-term liabilities includes mortgage note liabilities and liability-classified noncontrolling interests for the SPEs recorded at amortized cost with accretion towards settlement of the put/call option in the leases. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, other long-term liabilities include $465 million and $400 million in SPE mortgage note liability, respectively.     

4.    Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities


Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of the following as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2016:2020:


March 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Accounts payable – trade$724 $763 
Deferred revenue493 436 
Accrued liabilities:
Programming costs2,074 1,940 
Labor1,070 1,374 
Capital expenditures1,121 1,227 
Interest1,057 1,083 
Taxes and regulatory fees553 555 
Property and casualty470 462 
Operating lease liabilities245 235 
Other1,104 792 
$8,911 $8,867 
 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
Accounts payable – trade$572
 $454
Deferred revenue405
 352
Accrued liabilities:   
Programming costs1,947
 1,783
Labor1,053
 1,111
Capital expenditures1,389
 1,107
Interest994
 958
Taxes and regulatory fees592
 538
Property and casualty399
 394
Other1,000
 847
 $8,351
 $7,544


5.    Long-Term DebtLeases


Long-term debt consistsOperating lease expenses were $115 million and $108 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, inclusive of $35 million for each of the followingthree months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 of both short-term lease costs and variable lease costs that were not included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities.

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities, recorded as operating cash flows in the statements of September 30, 2017cash flows, were $81 million and December$73 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016:2021 and 2020, respectively. Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations were $96 million and $65 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.



 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
 Principal Amount Accreted Value Principal Amount Accreted Value
CCO Holdings, LLC:       
5.250% senior notes due March 15, 2021$500
 $497
 $500
 $496
6.625% senior notes due January 31, 2022—
 —
 750
 741
5.250% senior notes due September 30, 20221,250
 1,234
 1,250
 1,232
5.125% senior notes due February 15, 20231,000
 992
 1,000
 992
5.125% senior notes due May 1, 20231,150
 1,142
 1,150
 1,141
5.750% senior notes due September 1, 2023500
 496
 500
 496
5.750% senior notes due January 15, 20241,000
 992
 1,000
 991
5.875% senior notes due April 1, 20241,700
 1,686
 1,700
 1,685
5.375% senior notes due May 1, 2025750
 745
 750
 744
5.750% senior notes due February 15, 20262,500
 2,463
 2,500
 2,460
5.500% senior notes due May 1, 20261,500
 1,489
 1,500
 1,487
5.875% senior notes due May 1, 2027800
 794
 800
 794
5.125% senior notes due May 1, 20273,250
 3,215
 —
 —
5.000% senior notes due February 1, 20281,500
 1,486
 —
 —
Charter Communications Operating, LLC:       
3.579% senior notes due July 23, 20202,000
 1,987
 2,000
 1,983
4.464% senior notes due July 23, 20223,000
 2,976
 3,000
 2,973
4.908% senior notes due July 23, 20254,500
 4,461
 4,500
 4,458
3.750% senior notes due February 15, 20281,000
 985
 —
 —
4.200% senior notes due March 15, 20281,250
 1,237
 —
 —
6.384% senior notes due October 23, 20352,000
 1,981
 2,000
 1,980
6.484% senior notes due October 23, 20453,500
 3,466
 3,500
 3,466
5.375% senior notes due May 1, 20472,500
 2,506
 —
 —
7


9


CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows.

March 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Operating lease right-of-use assets:
Included within other noncurrent assets$1,242 $1,214 
Operating lease liabilities:
Current portion included within accounts payable and accrued liabilities$245 $235 
Long-term portion included within other long-term liabilities1,128 1,110 
$1,373 $1,345 
Weighted average remaining lease term for operating leases6.2 years6.4 years
Weighted average discount rate for operating leases3.7 %3.9 %

Maturities of lease liabilities as of March 31, 2021 are as follows.

Operating leases
Nine months ended December 31, 2021$237 
2022297 
2023273 
2024230 
2025182 
Thereafter386 
Undiscounted lease cash flow commitments1,605 
Reconciling impact from discounting(232)
Lease liabilities on consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2021$1,373 

The Company has $64 million and $63 million of finance lease liabilities recognized in the consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, included within accounts payable and accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities.The related finance lease right-of-use assets are recorded in property, plant and equipment, net.The Company’s finance leases were not considered material for further supplemental lease disclosures.

6.    Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consists of the following as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

March 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Principal AmountAccreted ValuePrincipal AmountAccreted Value
CCO Holdings, LLC:
4.000% senior notes due March 1, 2023$500 $498 $500 $498 
5.750% senior notes due February 15, 20261,750 1,733 2,500 2,475 
5.500% senior notes due May 1, 20261,500 1,493 1,500 1,492 
5.875% senior notes due May 1, 2027800 796 800 796 
5.125% senior notes due May 1, 20273,250 3,226 3,250 3,225 
5.000% senior notes due February 1, 20282,500 2,473 2,500 2,472 
5.375% senior notes due June 1, 20291,500 1,501 1,500 1,501 
4.750% senior notes due March 1, 20303,050 3,042 3,050 3,042 

8

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)

4.500% senior notes due August 15, 20304.500% senior notes due August 15, 20302,750 2,750 2,750 2,750 
4.250% senior notes due February 1, 20314.250% senior notes due February 1, 20313,000 3,001 3,000 3,001 
4.500% senior notes due May 1, 20324.500% senior notes due May 1, 20322,900 2,928 2,900 2,928 
Charter Communications Operating, LLC:Charter Communications Operating, LLC:
4.464% senior notes due July 23, 20224.464% senior notes due July 23, 20223,000 2,993 3,000 2,992 
Senior floating rate notes due February 1, 2024Senior floating rate notes due February 1, 2024900 902 900 902 
4.500% senior notes due February 1, 20244.500% senior notes due February 1, 20241,100 1,095 1,100 1,094 
4.908% senior notes due July 23, 20254.908% senior notes due July 23, 20254,500 4,477 4,500 4,475 
3.750% senior notes due February 15, 20283.750% senior notes due February 15, 20281,000 989 1,000 989 
4.200% senior notes due March 15, 20284.200% senior notes due March 15, 20281,250 1,242 1,250 1,241 
5.050% senior notes due March 30, 20295.050% senior notes due March 30, 20291,250 1,242 1,250 1,242 
2.800% senior notes due April 1, 20312.800% senior notes due April 1, 20311,600 1,583 1,600 1,583 
2.300% senior notes due February 1, 20322.300% senior notes due February 1, 20321,000 991 1,000 991 
6.384% senior notes due October 23, 20356.384% senior notes due October 23, 20352,000 1,983 2,000 1,983 
5.375% senior notes due April 1, 20385.375% senior notes due April 1, 2038800 786 800 786 
3.500% senior notes due June 1, 20413.500% senior notes due June 1, 20411,500 1,482 0 0 
6.484% senior notes due October 23, 20456.484% senior notes due October 23, 20453,500 3,468 3,500 3,468 
5.375% senior notes due May 1, 20475.375% senior notes due May 1, 20472,500 2,506 2,500 2,506 
5.750% senior notes due April 1, 20485.750% senior notes due April 1, 20482,450 2,392 2,450 2,392 
5.125% senior notes due July 1, 20495.125% senior notes due July 1, 20491,250 1,240 1,250 1,240 
4.800% senior notes due March 1, 20504.800% senior notes due March 1, 20502,800 2,797 2,800 2,797 
3.700% senior notes due April 1, 20513.700% senior notes due April 1, 20512,050 2,031 2,050 2,030 
3.900% senior notes due June 1, 20523.900% senior notes due June 1, 20521,000 992 0 0 
6.834% senior notes due October 23, 2055500
 495
 500
 495
6.834% senior notes due October 23, 2055500 495 500 495 
3.850% senior notes due April 1, 20613.850% senior notes due April 1, 20611,850 1,809 1,350 1,339 
Credit facilities8,768
 8,681
 8,916
 8,814
Credit facilities10,081 10,015 10,150 10,081 
Time Warner Cable, LLC:       Time Warner Cable, LLC:
5.850% senior notes due May 1, 2017—
 —
 2,000
 2,028
6.750% senior notes due July 1, 20182,000
 2,068
 2,000
 2,135
8.750% senior notes due February 14, 20191,250
 1,356
 1,250
 1,412
8.250% senior notes due April 1, 20192,000
 2,177
 2,000
 2,264
5.000% senior notes due February 1, 20201,500
 1,588
 1,500
 1,615
4.125% senior notes due February 15, 2021700
 732
 700
 739
4.000% senior notes due September 1, 20211,000
 1,048
 1,000
 1,056
4.000% senior notes due September 1, 20211,000 1,005 1,000 1,008 
5.750% sterling senior notes due June 2, 2031 (a)
838
 905
 770
 834
5.750% sterling senior notes due June 2, 2031 (a)
862 917 854 911 
6.550% senior debentures due May 1, 20371,500
 1,687
 1,500
 1,691
6.550% senior debentures due May 1, 20371,500 1,667 1,500 1,668 
7.300% senior debentures due July 1, 20381,500
 1,790
 1,500
 1,795
7.300% senior debentures due July 1, 20381,500 1,761 1,500 1,763 
6.750% senior debentures due June 15, 20391,500
 1,725
 1,500
 1,730
6.750% senior debentures due June 15, 20391,500 1,705 1,500 1,706 
5.875% senior debentures due November 15, 20401,200
 1,258
 1,200
 1,259
5.875% senior debentures due November 15, 20401,200 1,253 1,200 1,254 
5.500% senior debentures due September 1, 20411,250
 1,258
 1,250
 1,258
5.500% senior debentures due September 1, 20411,250 1,258 1,250 1,258 
5.250% sterling senior notes due July 15, 2042 (b)
871
 839
 800
 771
5.250% sterling senior notes due July 15, 2042 (b)
896 866 889 859 
4.500% senior debentures due September 15, 20421,250
 1,137
 1,250
 1,135
4.500% senior debentures due September 15, 20421,250 1,146 1,250 1,145 
Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC:       Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC:
8.375% senior debentures due March 15, 20231,000
 1,243
 1,000
 1,273
8.375% senior debentures due March 15, 20231,000 1,092 1,000 1,104 
8.375% senior debentures due July 15, 20331,000
 1,315
 1,000
 1,324
8.375% senior debentures due July 15, 20331,000 1,266 1,000 1,270 
Total debt66,777
 68,132
 60,036
 61,747
Total debt84,339 84,887 82,143 82,752 
Less current portion:       Less current portion:
5.850% senior notes due May 1, 2017—
 —
 (2,000) (2,028)
6.750% senior notes due July 1, 2018(2,000) (2,068) —
 —
4.000% senior notes due September 1, 20214.000% senior notes due September 1, 2021(1,000)(1,005)(1,000)(1,008)
Long-term debt$64,777
 $66,064
 $58,036
 $59,719
Long-term debt$83,339 $83,882 $81,143 $81,744 

(a)
Principal amount includes £625 million valued at $838 million and $770 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates.
(b)
Principal amount includes £650 million valued at $871 million and $800 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates.


(a)Principal amount includes £625 million remeasured at $862 million and $854 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates.

9

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)

(b)Principal amount includes £650 million remeasured at $896 million and $889 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, using the exchange rate at the respective dates.

The accreted values presented in the table above represent the principal amount of the debt less theadjusted for original issue discount or premium at the time of sale, deferred financing costs, and, in regards to the Legacy TWC debt assumed in acquisitions, fair value premium adjustments as a result of applying acquisition accounting plus the accretion of those amounts to the balance sheet date. However, the amount that is currently payable if the debt becomes immediately due is equal to the principal amount of the debt. In regards to the fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated notes (the “Sterling Notes”), the principal amount of the debt and any premium or discount is remeasured into US dollars is remeasured as of each balance sheet date. See Note 8.9. The Company has availability under the Charter Operating credit facilities of approximately $2.9$4.7 billion as of September 30, 2017.March 31, 2021.

CCO Holdings


In February 2016, CCO Holdings, LLC ("CCO Holdings")March 2021, Charter Operating and CCO HoldingsCharter Communications Operating Capital Corp. ("CCO Holdings Capital") jointly issued $1.7 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior notes due 2024 and, in April 2016, they issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.500%3.500% senior secured notes due 2026June 2041 at a price of 100.075%99.544% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds from both issuances were used to repurchase all of CCO Holdings’ 7.000% senior notes due 2019, 7.375% senior notes due 2020 and 6.500% senior notes due 2021 and to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. These debt repurchases resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $110 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.



10

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)


In February 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issuedamount, $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125%3.900% senior secured notes due May 1, 2027. The net proceeds were used to redeem CCO Holdings’ 6.625% senior notes due 2022, pay related feesJune 2052 at a price of 99.951% of the aggregate principal amount and expenses and for general corporate purposes. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $33 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to these transactions.

In March 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued an additional $1.0 billion$500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125%3.850% senior secured notes due May 1, 2027April 2061 at a price of 99.0% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds, as well as cash on hand, were used in April 2017 to redeem Time Warner Cable, LLC's 5.850% senior notes due 2017, pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to these transactions.

In April 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued an additional $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027 at a price of 100.5%94.668% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fundfunding buybacks of Charter Class A common stock orand Charter Holdings common units.units as well as repaying certain indebtedness, including $750 million of CCO Holdings, LLC ("CCO Holdings") 5.750% notes due February 2026. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $29 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 related to these transactions which is recorded in in other income (expenses), net in the consolidated statements of operations.


The Charter Operating notes are guaranteed by CCO Holdings and substantially all of the subsidiaries of Charter Operating. In addition, the Charter Operating notes are secured by a perfected first priority security interest in substantially all of the assets of Charter Operating and substantially all of its subsidiaries to the extent such liens can be perfected under the Uniform Commercial Code by the filing of a financing statement and the liens rank equally with the liens on the collateral securing obligations under the Charter Operating credit facilities. Charter Operating may redeem some or all of the Charter Operating notes at any time at a premium.

The Charter Operating notes are subject to the terms and conditions of the indenture governing the Charter Operating notes. The Charter Operating notes contain customary representations and warranties and affirmative covenants with limited negative covenants. The Charter Operating indenture also contains customary events of default.

In August 2017,April 2021, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.5$1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.000%4.500% senior unsecured notes due February 1, 2028.2033 at par. The net proceeds werewill be used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund potential buybacks of Charter Class A common stock orand Charter Holdings common units.

In October 2017, CCO Holdingsunits, to repay certain indebtedness and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.000% senior notes due March 1, 2023 (the "2023 Notes") and an additional $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2028 at a price of 98.5% of the aggregate principal amount (together with the notes issued in February, March, April and October 2017 described above, the "Notes"). The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.expenses.


The NotesCCO Holdings notes are senior debt obligations of CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital Corp. and rank equally with all other current and future unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital.Capital Corp. They are structurally subordinated to all obligations of subsidiaries of CCO Holdings.


CCO Holdings may redeem some or all of the Notesnotes at any time at a premium. Beginning in 2025 (2021 for 2023 Notes),2030, the optional redemption price declines to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.


In addition, at any time prior to varying dates in 2020 (2019 for the 2023 Notes),2024, CCO Holdings may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notesnotes at a premium plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings (as defined in the indenture); provided that certain conditions are met. In the event of specified change of control events, CCO Holdings must offer to purchase the outstanding Notesnotes from the holders at a purchase price equal to 101% of the total principal amount of the Notes,notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest.

Charter Operating

In January 2017, Charter Operating entered into an amendment to its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 18, 2016 (the “Credit Agreement”) decreasing the applicable LIBOR margin on both the term loan E and term loan F to 2.00% and eliminating the LIBOR floor. The Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to these transactions.

In April 2017, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 99.968% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

In July 2017, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.750% senior notes due February 15, 2028 at a price of 99.166% of the aggregate principal amount and an additional $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 106.529% of the aggregate




1110


CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

In September 2017, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.200% senior notes due March 15, 2028 at a price of 99.757% of the aggregate principal amount and an additional $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 98.969% of the aggregate principal amount (collectively together with the notes issued in April and July 2017 described above, the "Charter Operating Notes"). The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

The Charter Operating Notes are guaranteed by CCO Holdings, Time Warner Cable, LLC, Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC and substantially all of the operating subsidiaries of Charter Operating. In addition, the Charter Operating Notes are secured by a perfected first priority security interest in substantially all of the assets of Charter Operating to the extent such liens can be perfected under the Uniform Commercial Code by the filing of a financing statement. The liens rank equally with the liens on the collateral securing obligations under the Charter Operating credit facilities and continue to exist as long as the liens securing such facilities exist. Charter Operating may redeem some or all of the Charter Operating notes at any time at a premium.

6.7.    Common Stock


The following represents the Company's purchase of Charter Class A common stock and the effect on the consolidated statements of cash flows during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 2016.2020.


Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Shares$Shares$
Share buybacks5,556,318 $3,474 4,452,549 $2,176 
Income tax withholding284,563 178 335,654 176 
Exercise cost309,815 241,752 
6,150,696 $3,652 5,029,955 $2,352 
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
 Shares $ Shares $ Shares $ Shares $
Share buybacks9,521,958
 $3,513
 1,050,033
 $281
 21,940,797
 $7,611
 1,050,033
 $281
Income tax withholding32,283
 12
 274,545
 68
 424,148
 137
 727,616
 167
Exercise cost1,433
   28,397
   41,978
   47,190
  
 9,555,674
 $3,525
 1,352,975
 $349
 22,406,923
 $7,748
 1,824,839
 $448


Share buybacks includes 0.8 million shares of Charter Class A common stock purchased from Liberty Broadband Corporation (“Liberty Broadband”) during the three months ended March 31, 2021 at an average price of $621.16 for approximately $518 million pursuant to the LBB Letter Agreement. In April 2021, the Company purchased from Liberty Broadband an additional 0.7 million shares of Charter Class A common stock for approximately $460 million (see Note 19).

As of September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021, Charter had remaining board authority to purchase an additional $5.2$1.2 billion of Charter’s Class A common stock without taking into account shares and/or units that may be purchased from A/N. See Note 14.Charter Holdings common units. The Company also withholds shares of its Class A common stock in payment of income tax withholding owed by employees upon vesting of equity awards as well as exercise costs owed by employees upon exercise of stock options.


In December 2016,2020, Charter’s board of directors approved the retirement of the then currently held treasury stock and those shares were retired as of December 31, 2016.2020. The Company accounts for treasury stock using the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of total shareholders’ equity.


In March 2020, pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement with Liberty Broadband, Advance/Newhouse Partnership (“A/N”) and Charter, dated May 23, 2015 (the "Stockholders Agreement"), Charter, Liberty and A/N closed on transactions in which Liberty Broadband and A/N exercised their preemptive right to purchase 35,112 and 20,182 shares, respectively, of Charter Class A common stock for a total purchase price of approximately $23 million.
7.
8.    Noncontrolling Interests


Noncontrolling interests represents consolidated subsidiaries of which the Company owns less than 100%. The Company is a holding company whose principal asset is a controlling equity interest in Charter Holdings, the indirect owner of the Company’s cable systems. Noncontrolling interests on the Company’s balance sheet consist primarily includesof A/N’sN's equity interests in Charter Holdings, which is comprised of a common ownership interest and a convertible preferred ownership interest.


Net income (loss) of Charter Holdings attributable to A/N’s common noncontrolling interest for financial reporting purposes is based on the weighted average effective common ownership interest of approximately 10%,7% during 2021 and 8% during 2020, and was $6$76 million and $42$33 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2021 and $24 million and $53 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016,2020, respectively. Net income (loss) of Charter Holdings attributable to theA/N's preferred noncontrolling interest for financial reporting purposes is based on the preferred dividend which was $37 million and $112$38 million for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2021 and $37 million and $55 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.2020.




1211


CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)




PursuantThe following table represents Charter Holdings' purchase of Charter Holdings common units from A/N pursuant to the A/N Letter Agreement (see Note 14), Charter Holdings purchased from A/N 1.4 million Charter Holdings common units at an average price per unit of $355.83, or $493 million19) and the effect on total shareholders' equity during the three months ended September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021 and 2.7 million Charter Holdings common units at an average price per unit of $341.49, or $922 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The common units purchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 are reflected as a reduction in noncontrolling interest based on net carrying value of approximately $582 million with the remaining $340 million recorded as reduction of additional paid-in-capital, net of $131 million of deferred income taxes. As of September 30, 2017, A/N held 25.7 million Charter Holdings common units in addition to shares of Charter Class A common stock.2020.


Noncontrolling interest and additional paid-in-capital were
Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Number of units purchased792,654 795,607 
Average price per unit$639.27 $494.54 
Amount of units purchased$507 $393 
Decrease in noncontrolling interest based on carrying value$(192)$(195)
Decrease in additional paid-in-capital, net of tax$(237)$(149)

Total shareholders' equity was also adjusted during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 2020 due to the changes in Charter Holdings' ownership. These adjustments resulted in a decrease to noncontrolling interest of approximately $336 million and a corresponding increase to additional paid-in-capital of $336 million, net of $128 million of deferred income taxes, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.ownership as follows.


Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Decrease in noncontrolling interest$(175)$(109)
Increase in additional paid-in-capital, net of tax$131 $82 
8.
9.     Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities


The Company uses derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk on variable debt and foreign exchange risk on the Sterling Notes, and does not hold or issue derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes.

Interest rate derivative instruments are used to manage interest costs and to reduce the Company’s exposure to increases in floating interest rates. The Company manages its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates by maintaining a mix of fixed and variable rate debt. Using interest rate derivative instruments, the Company agrees to exchange, at specified intervals through 2017, the difference between fixed and variable interest amounts calculated by reference to agreed-upon notional principal amounts. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had $850 million in notional amounts of interest rate derivative instruments outstanding. The notional amounts of interest rate derivative instruments do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, thus, are not a measure of exposure to credit loss. The amounts exchanged were determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms of the contracts.


Cross-currency derivative instruments are used to effectively convert £1.275 billion aggregate principal amount of fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated debt, including annual interest payments and the payment of principal at maturity, to fixed-rate U.S. dollar denominated debt. The cross-currency swaps have maturities of June 2031 and July 2042. The Company is required to post collateral on the cross-currency derivative instruments when the derivative contracts are in a liability position. In May 2016,April 2019, the Company entered into a collateral holiday agreement for 80%60% of both the 2031 and 2042 cross-currency swaps, which eliminates the requirement to post collateral for three years.

The effect of derivative instrumentsyears, as well as a ten year collateral cap on the remaining 40% of the cross-currency swaps which limits the required collateral posting on that 40% of the cross-currency swaps to $150 million. In March 2021, the collateral holiday for 20% of the swaps was extended to November 2022 in consideration for the Company's agreement to post collateral over a threshold amount on that 20% portion of the swaps from March 2021 through October 2021. The fair value of the Company's cross-currency derivatives was $121 million and $184 million and is included in other long-term liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets is presented in the table below:as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
Interest Rate Derivatives   
Accrued interest$1
 $5
Accumulated other comprehensive loss$(1) $(5)
    
Cross-Currency Derivatives   
Other long-term liabilities$125
 $251


The Company’s interest rate and cross-currency derivative instruments are not designated as hedges and are marked to fair value each period, with the impact recorded as a gain or loss on financial instruments net in the consolidated statements of operations.operations in other expenses, net. While these derivative instruments are not designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes, management continues to believe such instruments are closely correlated with the respective debt, thus managing associated risk.



12
13


CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)





The effect of financial instruments onare recorded in other income (expenses), net in the consolidated statements of operations is presented inand consisted of the table below.following.
Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Change in fair value of cross-currency derivative instruments$63 $(426)
Foreign currency remeasurement of Sterling Notes to U.S. dollars(15)108 
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net$48 $(318)

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Gain (loss) on Financial Instruments, Net:       
Change in fair value of interest rate derivative instruments$—
 $7
 $4
 $5
Change in fair value of cross-currency derivative instruments68
 17
 126
 (168)
Foreign currency remeasurement of Sterling Notes to U.S. dollars(50) 49
 (141) 196
Loss on termination of interest rate derivative instruments—
 —
 —
 (11)
Loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss due to discontinuance of hedge accounting(1) (2) (4) (6)
 $17
 $71
 $(15) $16

9.10.    Fair Value Measurements


The accountingAccounting guidanceestablishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements, based on the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date, as follows:


•Level 1 – inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
•Level 2 – inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
•Level 3 – inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.


Financial Assets and Liabilities


The Company has estimated the fair value of its financial instruments as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and December 31, 20162020 using available market information or other appropriate valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment, however, is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company would realize in a current market exchange.


The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, payables and other current assets and liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.


A portionAs of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2016 were invested in money market funds. The money market funds are valued at2020, accounts receivable, net on the closing price reported by the fund sponsor from an actively traded exchange which approximates fair value. The money market funds potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk. The amount invested within any one financial instrument did not exceed $500consolidated balance sheets includes approximately $344 million and $250$338 million as of September 30, 2017current equipment installment plan receivables, respectively, and December 31, 2016,other noncurrent assets includes approximately $168 million and $134 million of noncurrent equipment installment plan receivables, respectively. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were no significant concentrations of financial instruments in a single investee, industry or geographic location.

Interest rate derivative instruments are valued using a present value calculation based on an implied forward LIBOR curve (adjusted for Charter Operating’s and counterparties’ credit risk). The weighted average pay rate for the Company’s currently effective interest rate derivative instruments was 1.59% at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (exclusive of applicable spreads). The cross-currency derivative instruments are valued using a present value calculation based on expected forward interest and exchange rates (adjusted for Charter Operating’s and counterparties’ credit risk).



14

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



Financial instruments accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis are presented in the table below.

 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
 Level 1 Level 2 Level 1 Level 2
Assets       
Money market funds$1,502
 $—
 $1,205
 $—
        
Liabilities       
Interest rate derivative instruments$—
 $1
 $—
 $5
Cross-currency derivative instruments$—
 $125
 $—
 $251

A summaryand classified within Level 2 of the carrying valuevaluation hierarchy include the Company's cross-currency derivative instruments and fair value of debtwere valued at $121 million and $184 million as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2016 is as follows:2020, respectively.


  September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
  Carrying Value Fair Value Carrying Value Fair Value
Senior notes and debentures $59,451
 $62,657
 $52,933
 $55,203
Credit facilities $8,681
 $8,788
 $8,814
 $8,943

The estimated fair value of the Company’s senior notes and debentures as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and December 31, 20162020 is based on quoted market prices in active markets and is classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy, while the estimated fair value of the Company’s credit facilities is based on quoted market prices in inactive markets and is classified within Level 2. The carrying amount of the consolidated variable interest entity's mortgage note liability approximates fair value.



13

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)

A summary of the carrying value and fair value of debt as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is as follows:

March 31, 2021December 31, 2020
Carrying ValueFair ValueCarrying ValueFair Value
Senior notes and debentures$74,872 $82,191 $72,671 $84,163 
Credit facilities$10,015 $10,032 $10,081 $10,063 

Nonfinancial Assets and Liabilities


The Company’s nonfinancial assets such as equity-method investments, franchises, property, plant, and equipment, and other intangible assets are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis; however, they are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence that an impairment may exist.  No materialWhen such impairments wereare recorded, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. Upon closingfair values are generally classified within Level 3 of the Transactions, all of Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House nonfinancial assets and liabilities were recorded at fair values. See Note 2.valuation hierarchy.


10.11.    Revenues

The Company’s revenues by product line are as follows:

Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Internet$5,086 $4,407 
Video4,344 4,422 
Voice399 457 
Residential revenue9,829 9,286 
Small and medium business1,012 996 
Enterprise638 622 
Commercial revenue1,650 1,618 
Advertising sales344 365 
Mobile492 258 
Other207 211 
$12,522 $11,738 

12.     Operating Costs and Expenses


Operating costs and expenses, exclusive of items shown separately in the consolidated statements of operations, consist of the following for the periods presented:


Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Programming$2,988 $2,892 
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content600 551 
Costs to service customers1,804 1,848 
Marketing751 766 
Mobile572 374 
Other996 1,001 
$7,711 $7,432 

14

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Programming$2,699
 $2,404
 $7,952
 $4,648
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content523
 515
 1,553
 944
Costs to service customers1,943
 2,016
 5,798
 3,663
Marketing629
 596
 1,812
 1,143
Transition costs23
 32
 104
 78
Other886
 919
 2,638
 1,681
 $6,703
 $6,482
 $19,857
 $12,157


Programming costs consist primarily of costs paid to programmers for basic, premium, digital, video on demand and pay-per-view programming. Regulatory, connectivity and produced content costs represent payments to franchise and regulatory authorities, costs directly related to providing video, Internet and voice services as well as payments for sports, local and news content produced


15

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)


by the Company. Included in regulatory, connectivity and produced content costs is content acquisition costs for the Los Angeles Lakers’ basketball games and Los Angeles Dodgers’ baseball games, which are recorded as games are exhibited over the applicable season.contract period. Costs to service customers include costs related to field operations, network operations and customer care for the Company’s residential and small and medium businessSMB customers, including internal and third-party labor for the non-capitalizable portion of installations, service and repairs, maintenance, bad debt expense, billing and collection, occupancy and vehicle costs. Marketing costs represent the costs of marketing to current and potential commercial and residential customers including labor costs. TransitionMobile costs represent incremental costs incurred to integrateassociated with the TWCCompany's mobile service such as device and Bright House operationsservice costs, marketing, sales and to increase the scale of the Company’s business as a result of the Transactions. See Note 2.commissions, retail stores, personnel costs, taxes, among others. Other includes corporate overhead, advertising sales expenses, indirect costs associated with the Company’s enterprise business customers and regional sports and news networks, property tax and insurance expense and stock compensation expense, among others.

11.13.     Other Operating Expenses, Net


Other operating expenses, net consist of the following for the periods presented:


Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Special charges, net$255 $16 
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net47 (9)
$302 $7 
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Merger and restructuring costs$67
 $205
 $293
 $775
Special charges, net80
 4
 86
 10
Gain on sale of assets, net(2) (2) (5) (9)
 $145
 $207
 $374
 $776

Merger and restructuring costs

Merger and restructuring costs represent costs incurred in connection with merger and acquisition transactions and related restructuring, such as advisory, legal and accounting fees, employee retention costs, employee termination costs related to the Transactions and other exit costs. The Company expects to incur additional merger and restructuring costs in connection with the Transactions. Changes in accruals for merger and restructuring costs from December 31, 2016 through September 30, 2017 are presented below:

 Employee Retention Costs Employee Termination Costs Transaction and Advisory Costs Other Costs Total
Liability, December 31, 2015$—
 $—
 $33
 $—
 $33
Liability assumed in the Transactions80
 9
 3
 —
 92
Costs incurred26
 337
 318
 41
 722
Cash paid(99) (102) (329) (41) (571)
Remaining liability, December 31, 20167
 244
 25
 —
 276
          
Costs incurred4
 186
 3
 57
 250
Cash paid(9) (253) (4) (45) (311)
Remaining liability, September 30, 2017$2
 $177
 $24
 $12
 $215

In addition to the costs incurred indicated above, the Company recorded $6 million and $43 million of expense related to accelerated vesting of equity awards of terminated employees during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $57 million and $202 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.


Special charges, net


Special charges, net primarily includes employee termination costs not related to the Transactions and net amounts of litigation settlements. In 2017, special charges,settlements, including the $220 million tentative settlement with Sprint Communications Company L.P. (“Sprint”) and T-Mobile USA, Inc. ("T-Mobile") discussed in Note 20, and employee termination costs.

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net also includes an $83 million charge related to

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net represents the Company's withdrawal liability fromnet (gain) loss recognized on the sales and disposals of fixed assets and cable systems.


14.     Other Income (Expenses), Net

Other income (expenses), net consist of the following for the periods presented:

Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Loss on extinguishment of debt (see Note 6)$(29)$(27)
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net (see Note 9)48 (318)
Other pension benefits, net (see Note 21)18 10 
Gain on equity investments, net15 9 
$52 $(326)

15.    Stock Compensation Plans

Charter’s stock incentive plans provide for grants of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance units and performance shares, share awards, phantom stock, restricted stock


1615


CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



units and restricted stock.  Directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as others performing consulting services for the Company, are eligible for grants under the stock incentive plans.
a multiemployer pension plan.

Charter granted the following equity awards for the periods presented.
Gain
Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Stock options1,225,000 1,253,700 
Restricted stock units345,100 408,300 

Charter stock options and restricted stock units generally cliff vest three years from the date of grant. Certain stock options and restricted stock units vest based on saleachievement of assets, netstock price hurdles. Stock options generally expire ten years from the grant date and restricted stock units have no voting rights. Restricted stock generally vests one year from the date of grant.


Gain on saleAs of assets, net representsMarch 31, 2021, total unrecognized compensation remaining to be recognized in future periods totaled $374 million for stock options, $0.2 million for restricted stock and $357 million for restricted stock units and the net gainweighted average period over which they are expected to be recognized onis two years for stock options, one month for restricted stock and two years for restricted stock units.

The Company recorded stock compensation expense of $134 million and $90 million for the salesthree months ended March 31, 2021 and disposals of fixed assets2020, respectively, which is included in operating costs and cable systems.expenses.


12.16.    Income Taxes


Substantially all of the Company’s operations are held through Charter Holdings and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Charter Holdings and the majority of its subsidiaries are limited liability companies that are generally not subject to income tax. However, certain of these limited liability companies are subject to state income tax. In addition, the subsidiaries that are corporations are subject to income tax. Generally, the taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of Charter Holdings are passed through to its members, Charter and A/N. Charter is responsible for its share of taxable income or loss of Charter Holdings allocated to it in accordance with the Charter Holdings Limited Liability Company Agreement (“LLC Agreement”) and partnership tax rules and regulations. As a result, Charter's primary deferred tax component recorded in the consolidated balance sheets relates to its excess financial reporting outside basis, excluding amounts attributable to nondeductible goodwill, over Charter's tax basis in the investment in Charter Holdings.


For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, theThe Company recorded income tax expense of $26$216 million and $99$29 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Income tax expense is generally recognized through increases in deferred tax liabilities as well as through current federal and state income tax expense. Income tax expense forincreased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was reduced by approximately $17 million and $88 million, respectively, dueMarch 31, 2021 compared to the recognition of excess tax benefits resulting from share based compensation as a component of the provision for income taxes following the prospective application of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). Upon adoption of ASU 2016-09 on January 1, 2017, the Company recognized excess tax benefits of approximately $136 millioncorresponding period in deferred tax assets that were previously not recognized in a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings. See Note 19.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded income tax expense of $16 million and income tax benefit of $3.1 billion, respectively. The income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was2020 primarily the result of a reduction of substantially all of Legacy Charter's preexisting valuation allowance associated with its deferred tax assets of approximately $3.3 billion as certain of the deferred tax liabilities that were assumed in connection with the closing of the TWC Transaction will reverse and provide a source of future taxable income. This tax benefit was partially offset by the tax effect of permanent differences for estimated nondeductible transaction costs and noncontrolling interest expense, a decrease to the anticipated blended state rate applied to Legacy Charter deferred tax balances as a result of higher pretax income.

On March 18, 2020, the Transactions,Families First Coronavirus Response Act ("FFCR Act"), and prioron March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") were each enacted in response to the closingCOVID-19 pandemic. The FFCR Act and the CARES Act contain numerous tax provisions, such as deferring payroll tax payments, establishing a credit for the retention of certain employees, relaxing limitations on the Transactions, increases (decreases) in deferreddeductibility of interest, and updating the definition of qualified improvement property. This legislation currently has no material impact to income tax liabilities related to Charter’s franchises which are characterized as indefinite-lived for bookexpense on the Company’s financial reporting purposes.statements.


Charter Holdings, the indirect owner of the Company’s cable systems, generally allocates its taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits proportionately according to the members’ respective ownership interests, except for special allocations required under Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations (“Section 704(c)”).  Pursuant to Section 704(c) and the LLC Agreement, each item of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the partnership shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the members so as to take into account any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and its initial gross asset value using the “traditional method” as described in the Treasury Regulations.



16

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)

In determining the Company’s tax provision for financial reporting purposes, the Company establishes a reserve for uncertain tax positions unless such positions are determined to be “more likely than not” of being sustained upon examination, based on their technical merits. There is considerable judgment involved in making such a determination. The Company has recorded unrecognized tax benefits totaling approximately $171$316 million and $172$298 million, excluding interest and penalties, as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2016,2020, respectively. The Company does not currently anticipate that its reserve for uncertain tax positions will significantly increase or decrease during 2017;2021; however, various events could cause the Company’s current expectations to change in the future. These uncertain tax positions, if ever recognized in the financial statements, would be recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as part of the income tax provision.



17

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



No tax years for Charter Charter Holdings, or Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC for income tax purposes, are currently under examination by the IRS. Legacy Charter’sInternal Revenue Service ("IRS") for income tax purposes. Charter's 2016 through 2020 tax years ending 2014 through 2016 remain subject toopen for examination and assessment. YearsCharter’s short period return dated May 17, 2016 (prior to the merger with Time Warner Cable Inc. ("TWC") and acquisition of Bright House Networks, LLC ("Bright House")) and prior to 2014years remain open solely for purposes of examination of Legacy Charter’s loss and credit carryforwards. The IRS is currently examining LegacyCharter Holdings’ income tax return for 2016. Charter Holdings’ 2017 through 2020 tax years remain open for examination and assessment. The IRS is currently examining TWC’s income tax returns for 2011 through 2014. Legacy TWC’s tax year 2015 remains subject to examination and assessment. Prior to Legacy TWC’s separation from Time Warner Inc. (“Time Warner”) in March 2009, (the “Separation”), Legacy TWC was included in the consolidated U.S. federal and certain state income tax returns of Time Warner. The IRS is currently examininghas examined Time Warner’s 2008 through 2010 income tax returns. Time Warner’s income tax returns for 2005 to 2007, whichand the results are periods prior to the Separation, were settled with the exception of an immaterial item that has been referred to the IRS Appeals Division.under appeal. The Company does not anticipate that these examinations will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations. In addition, the Company is also subject to ongoing examinations of the Company’s tax returns by state and local tax authorities for various periods. Activity related to these state and local examinations did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021, nor does the Company anticipate a material impact in the future.


13.17.    Earnings Per Share


Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Charter shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share considers the impact of potentially dilutive securities using the treasury stock and if-converted methods and is based on the weighted average number of shares used for the basic earnings per share calculation, adjusted for the dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, equity awards with market conditions and Charter Holdings convertible preferred units and common units. Charter Holdings common units of 15 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and Charter Holdings common and convertible preferred units of 27 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and for the three months ended September 30, 2016 as their effect was antidilutive. The following is the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.


 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Numerator:       
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders$48
 $189
 $342
 $3,068
Effect of dilutive securities:       
Charter Holdings common units—
 —
 —
 53
Charter Holdings convertible preferred units—
 —
 —
 55
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders after assumed conversions$48
 $189
 $342
 $3,176
        
Denominator:       
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic253,923,805
 271,263,259
 262,074,603
 185,706,106
Effect of dilutive securities:       
Assumed exercise or issuance of shares relating to stock plans4,418,046
 4,109,943
 4,288,999
 2,736,562
Weighted average Charter Holdings common units—
 —
 —
 15,384,794
Weighted average Charter Holdings convertible preferred units—
 —
 —
 4,632,686
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted258,341,851
 275,373,202
 266,363,602
 208,460,148
        
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders$0.19
 $0.70
 $1.31
 $16.52
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders$0.19
 $0.69
 $1.29
 $15.23
17



18


CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



computation of diluted earnings per share as their effect would have been antidilutive. The following is the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.
14.
Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders$807 $396 
Effect of dilutive securities:
Charter Holdings convertible preferred units38 0 
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders after assumed conversions$845 $396 
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic191,404,527 207,831,305 
Effect of dilutive securities:
Assumed exercise or issuance of shares relating to stock plans5,134,509 4,979,308 
Weighted average Charter Holdings convertible preferred units9,333,500 0 
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted205,872,536 212,810,613 
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders$4.22 $1.91 
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Charter shareholders$4.11 $1.86 

18.    Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income equaled net income attributable to Charter shareholders for each of the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

19.    Related Party Transactions


On May 23, 2015,The following sets forth certain transactions in connection withwhich the executionCompany and the directors, executive officers, and affiliates of the Merger Agreement and the amendment of the Contribution Agreement, Charter entered into the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement with Liberty Broadband, A/N and Legacy Charter (the “Stockholders Agreement”) and the LLC Agreement with Liberty Broadband and A/N. As of the closing of the Merger Agreement and the Contribution Agreement on May 18, 2016, the Stockholders Agreement replaced Legacy Charter’s existing stockholders agreement with Liberty Broadband, dated September 29, 2014, and superseded the amended and restated stockholders agreement among Legacy Charter, Charter, Company are involved.

Liberty Broadband and A/N dated March 31, 2015.


Under the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, the number of Charter’s directors is fixed at 13, and includes its CEO. Upon the closing of the Bright House Transaction, twoTwo designees selected by A/N becameare members of the board of directors of Charter and three designees selected by Liberty Broadband continued asare members of the board of directors of Charter. The remaining eight directors are not affiliated with either A/N or Liberty Broadband. Each of A/N and Liberty Broadband is entitled to nominate at least one director to each of the committees of Charter’s board of directors, subject to applicable stock exchange listing rules and certain specified voting or equity ownership thresholds for each of A/N and Liberty Broadband, and provided that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation and Benefit Committee each have at least a majority of directors independent from A/N, Liberty Broadband and the CompanyCharter (referred to as the “unaffiliated directors”). Each of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation and Benefits Committee is currently comprised of three unaffiliated directors and one designee of each of A/N and Liberty Broadband. A/N and Liberty Broadband also have certain other committee designationdesignations and other governance rights. Upon the closing of the Bright House Transaction, Mr. Thomas Rutledge, the Company’s CEO, becameis the chairman of the board of Charter.


In December 2016, Charter and A/N entered into a letter agreement, as amended in December 2017 (the "Letter Agreement"“A/N Letter Agreement”), that requires A/N to sell to Charter or to Charter Holdings, on a monthly basis, a number of shares of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units that represents a pro rata participation by A/N and its affiliates in any repurchases of shares of Charter Class A common stock from persons other than A/N effected by Charter during the immediately preceding calendar month, at a purchase price equal to the average price paid by Charter for the shares repurchased from persons other than A/N during such immediately preceding calendar month. A/N and Charter both have the right to terminate or suspend the pro rata repurchase arrangement on a prospective basis.

18

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)


In February 2021, Charter and Liberty Broadband entered into a letter agreement (the “LBB Letter Agreement”). The LBB Letter Agreement implements Liberty Broadband’s obligations under the Stockholders Agreement to participate in share repurchases by Charter. Under the LBB Letter Agreement, Liberty Broadband will sell to Charter, generally on a monthly basis, once Charter or Charter Holdings have repurchaseda number of shares of Charter Class A common stock orrepresenting an amount sufficient for Liberty Broadband’s ownership of Charter Holdings common unitsto be reduced such that it does not exceed the ownership cap then applicable to Liberty Broadband under the Stockholders Agreement at a purchase price per share equal to the volume weighted average price per share paid by Charter for shares repurchased during such immediately preceding calendar month other than (i) purchases from A/N, (ii) purchases in privately negotiated transactions or (iii) purchases for the withholding of shares of Charter Class A common stock pursuant to equity compensation programs of Charter.

Gregory Maffei, a director of Charter and its affiliates for an aggregate purchase pricePresident and CEO and director and holder of $537 million which threshold has been reached.

The Company is aware that Dr. John Malone may be deemed to have a 37.9%12.6% voting interest in Liberty Interactive andBroadband, is Chairman of the board of directors an executive officer position, of Liberty Interactive. Liberty Interactive owns 38.2%Qurate Retail, Inc. ("Qurate") and Dr. John Malone, a director emeritus of Charter and Chairman of the common stockboard of directors and holder of 45.8% of voting interest in Liberty Broadband, also serves on the Qurate board of directors. As reported in SEC filings of Qurate, Mr. Maffei and Dr. Malone, Mr. Maffei has ownership of an approximate 6.3% voting interest in Quarate and Dr. Malone has ownership of an approximate 41.2% voting interest in Qurate. Qurate wholly owns HSN, Inc. (“HSN”) and has the right to elect 20% of the board members of HSN. Liberty Interactive wholly owns QVC, Inc. (“QVC”). The Company has programming relationships with HSN and QVC which pre-date the transaction with Liberty Media Corporation.QVC. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded paymentsrevenue in aggregate of approximately $17$11 million and $50 million, respectively, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded payments in aggregate of approximately $18 million and $33$12 million, respectively, from HSN and QVC as part of channel carriage fees and revenue sharing arrangements for home shopping sales made to customers in the Company’s footprint.


Dr. Malone and Mr. Steven Miron, each a member of Charter’s board of directors, also serve on the board of directors of Discovery, Communications, Inc., (“Discovery”) and the Company is aware that. As reported in Discovery's SEC filings, Dr. Malone owns 5.1% in1.2% of the aggregateseries A common stock, 93.6% of the series B common stock and 3.6% of the series C common stock of Discovery and has a 28.5%27.9% voting interest in Discovery for the election of directors. The Company is aware thatAs reported in Discovery's SEC filings, Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership (“A/N PP”), an affiliate of A/N and in which Mr. Miron is the CEO, owns 100% of the Series AA-1 preferred stock of Discovery and 100% of the Series CC-1 preferred stock of Discovery representing approximately 34.6%and has a 23.9% voting interest for matters other than the election of the outstanding equity of Discovery’s stock, on an as-converted basis.directors. A/N PP also has the right to appoint three directors out of a total of eleventwelve directors to Discovery’s board to be elected by the holders of Discovery’s Series A preferred stock. In addition, Dr. Malone is a member of the board of directors of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. ("Lions Gate", parent company of Starz, Inc.) and owns approximately 5.9% in the aggregate of the common stock of Lions Gate and has 8.1% of the voting power, pursuant to his ownership of Lions Gate Class A voting shares.board. The Company purchases programming from both Discovery and Lions Gate pursuant to agreements entered into prior to Dr. Malone and Mr. Miron joining Charter’s board of directors.Discovery. Based on publicly available information, the Company does not believe that either Discovery or Lions Gate would currently be considered a related parties.party. The amountsamount paid in the aggregate to Discovery and Lions Gate representrepresents less than 3%2% of total operating costs and expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 2016.2020.



Equity Investments

19

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



The Company has agreements with certain equity-methodequity investees pursuant to which the Company has made or received related party transaction payments. The Company recorded payments to equity-methodequity investees totaling $62$58 million and $208$63 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2021 and $67 million and $108 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The Company recorded advertising revenues from transactions with equity-method investees totaling $3 million and $8 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $3 million and $4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016,2020, respectively.


15.20.    Contingencies


In August 2015, a purported stockholder of Charter, Matthew Sciabacucchi, filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery, on behalf of a putative class of Charter stockholders, challenging the transactions betweeninvolving Charter, TWC, A/N, and Liberty Broadband announced by Charter on May 26, 2015. The lawsuit, nameswhich named as defendants Liberty Broadband, Legacy Charter theand its board of directors, of Charter, and Charter. Plaintiff alleged that the Liberty Transactions improperly benefittransactions resulted from breaches of fiduciary duty by Charter’s directors and that Liberty Broadband improperly benefited from the challenged transactions at the expense of other Charter shareholders, and that Charter issued a false and misleading proxy statement in connection with the Transactions and the Liberty Transactions.  Plaintiff requested, among other things, that the Delaware Court of Chancery enjoin the September 21, 2015 special meeting of Charter stockholders at which Charter stockholders were asked to vote on the Transactions and the Liberty Transactions until the defendants disclosed certain information relating to Charter, the Transactions and the Liberty Transactions. The disclosures demanded by the plaintiff included (i) certain unlevered free cash flow projections for Charter and (ii) a Form of Proxy and Right of First Refusal Agreement (“Proxy”) by and among Liberty Broadband, A/N, Legacy Charter and Charter, which was referenced in the description of the Second Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated May 23, 2015, among Legacy Charter, Charter, Liberty Broadband and A/N. On September 9, 2015, Charter issued supplemental disclosures containing unlevered free cash flow projections for Charter. In return, the plaintiff agreed its disclosure claims were moot and withdrew its application to enjoin the Charter stockholder vote on the Transactions and the Liberty Transactions. Charter filed a motion to dismiss this litigation and on May 31, 2017, the court issued an opinion, concluding a number of issues but reserving ruling on Charter’s motion until further briefing can be done regarding whether plaintiff’s claims are direct or derivative. The parties are presently providing the additional briefing that the court seeks.stockholders. Charter denies any liability, believes that it has substantial defenses, and intends tois vigorously defenddefending this suit.lawsuit. Although Charter is unable to predict the outcome of this lawsuit, it does not expect the outcome will have a material effect on its operations, financial condition or cash flows.


The California Attorney General and the Alameda County, California District Attorney are investigating whether certain of Legacy Charter’s waste disposal policies, procedures and practices are in violation of the California Business and Professions Code and the California Health and Safety Code. That investigation was commenced in January 2014. A similar investigation involving Legacy TWC was initiated in February 2012. Charter is cooperating with these investigations. While the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these investigations, it does not expect that the outcome will have a material effect on its operations, financial condition, or cash flows.


On December 19 2011, Sprint Communications Company L.P. (“Sprint”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas alleging that Legacy TWC infringed 12 U.S. patents purportedly relating to Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) services. Over the course of the litigation Sprint dismissed its claims relating to five of the asserted patents, and shortly before trial Sprint dropped its claims with respect to two additional patents.  A trial on the remaining five patents began on February 13, 2017.  On March 3, 2017 the jury returned a verdict of $140 million against Legacy TWC and further concluded that Legacy TWC had willfully infringed Sprint’s patents. The court subsequently declined to enhance the damage award as a result of the purported willful infringement. On May 30, 2017, the court awarded Sprint an additional $6 million, representing pre-judgment interest on the damages award. On June 28, 2017, the Company filed its notice of appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In addition to its appeal, the Company will continue to pursue indemnity from one of its vendors.  The impact of the verdict was reflected in the adjustment to net current liabilities as described in Note 2. The Company does not expect that the outcome of this litigation will have a material adverse effect on its operations or financial condition.  The ultimate outcome of this litigation or the pursuit of indemnity against the Company’s vendor cannot be predicted.
On October 23, 2015, the New York Office of the Attorney General (the “NY AG”) began an investigation of Legacy TWC's advertised Internet speeds and other Internet product advertising. On February 1, 2017, the NY AG filed suit in the Supreme Court for the State of New York alleging that Legacy TWC's advertising of Internet speeds was false and misleading. The suit seeks restitution and injunctive relief. On May 26, 2017, the Company moved to dismiss the NY AG’s complaint. The Company intends to defend itself vigorously. However, no assurances can be made that such defenses would ultimately be successful. At this time,


20


CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)




Sprint filed a patent suit against Charter and Bright House on December 2, 2017 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. This suit alleges infringement of 9 patents related to the Company's provision of Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) services. Sprint previously sued TWC with respect to eight of these patents and obtained a final judgment of $151 million inclusive of interest and costs, which the Company paid in November 2019. The Company has also brought a patent suit against Sprint (TC Tech, LLC v. Sprint) in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware implicating Sprint's LTE technology and a similar suit against T-Mobile in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Sprint filed a subsequent patent suit against Charter on May 17, 2018 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. This suit alleges infringement of two patents related to the Company's video on demand services. The court transferred this case to the United States District Court for the District of Delaware on December 20, 2018 pursuant to an agreement between the parties.

On February 18, 2020, Sprint filed a lawsuit against Charter, Bright House and TWC. Sprint alleges that Charter misappropriated trade secrets from Sprint years ago through employees hired by Bright House. Sprint asserts that the alleged trade secrets relate to the VoIP business of Charter, TWC and Bright House. The case is now pending in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.

Charter, T-Mobile and Sprint have tentatively reached a settlement of all of the foregoing suits that would result in a payment of $220 million by Charter to T-Mobile. The Company can give no assurance that this tentative settlement will be finalized. Pending finalization of the settlement and in the event the settlement is not finalized, the Company will vigorously defend these Sprint suits and prosecute the suits it has brought against T-Mobile and Sprint. While the Company is unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits, it does not expect that the outcome of this litigation will have a material adverse effect on its operations, financial condition, or cash flows.


TheIn addition to the Sprint litigation described above, the Company is a defendant or co-defendant in several additional lawsuits involving alleged infringement of various patentsintellectual property relating to various aspects of its businesses. Other industry participants are also defendants in certain of these cases or related cases. In the event that a court ultimately determines that the Company infringes on any intellectual property, rights, the Company may be subject to substantial damages and/or an injunction that could require the Company or its vendors to modify certain products and services the Company offers to its subscribers, as well as negotiate royalty or license agreements with respect to the patentsintellectual property at issue. While the Company believes the lawsuits are without merit and intends to defend the actions vigorously, no assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be material to the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. The Company cannot predict the outcome of any such claims nor can it reasonably estimate a range of possible loss.


The Company is party to other lawsuits, claims and regulatory inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of conducting its business, including lawsuits claiming violation of wage and hour laws and breach of contract by vendors, including by one of its programmers.business. The ultimate outcome of these other legal matters pending against the Company cannot be predicted, and although such lawsuits and claims are not expected individually to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity, such lawsuits could have, in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Whether or not the Company ultimately prevails in any particular lawsuit or claim, litigation can be time consuming and costly and injure the Company’s reputation.


16.    Stock Compensation Plans

Charter’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan provides for grants of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance units and performance shares, share awards, phantom stock, restricted stock units and restricted stock.  Directors, officers and other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as others performing consulting services for the Company, are eligible for grants under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.

Charter granted the following equity awards for the periods presented after applying the parent company merger ratio as a result of the Transactions, as applicable.

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Stock options20,900
 275,400
 1,167,100
 5,980,800
Restricted stock—
 400
 9,500
 10,400
Restricted stock units5,100
 39,300
 283,000
 890,700

Charter stock options and restricted stock units cliff vest upon the three year anniversary of each grant. Certain stock options and restricted stock units vest based on achievement of stock price hurdles. Stock options generally expire ten years from the grant date and restricted stock units have no voting rights. Restricted stock generally vests one year from the date of grant. Legacy TWC restricted stock units that were converted into Charter restricted stock units generally vest 50% on each of the third and fourth anniversary of the grant date. Legacy TWC stock options that were converted into Charter stock options vest ratably over a four-year period and expire ten years from the grant date.

As of September 30, 2017, total unrecognized compensation remaining to be recognized in future periods totaled $242 million for stock options, $2 million for restricted stock and $209 million for restricted stock units and the weighted average period over which they are expected to be recognized is three years for stock options, one year for restricted stock and two years for restricted stock units.

The Company recorded $64 million and $198 million of stock compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively and $81 million and $168 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, which is included in operating costs and expenses. The Company also recorded $6 million and $43 million of expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $57 million and $202 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, related to accelerated vesting of equity awards of terminated employees which is recorded in merger and restructuring costs.


21

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



17.21.    Employee Benefit Plans


The Company sponsors two qualified defined and nonqualified defined benefit pension plans the TWC Pension Plan and the TWC Union Pension Plan, that provide pension benefits to a majority of Legacyemployees who were employed by TWC employees. The Company also provides a nonqualified defined benefit pension plan for certain employees underbefore the TWC Excess Pension Plan.merger with TWC.
Pension benefits are based on formulas that reflect the employees’ years of service and compensation during their employment period. Actuarial gains or losses are changes in the amount of either the benefit obligation or the fair value of plan assets resulting from experience different from that assumed or from changes in assumptions. The Company has elected to follow a mark-to-market pension accounting policy for recording the actuarial gains or losses annually during the fourth quarter, or earlier if a remeasurement event occurs during an interim period.

The components of net periodic pension cost (benefit) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 consisted of the following:

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Service cost$—
 $51
 $—
 $86
Interest cost33
 34
 101
 55
Expected return on plan assets(46) (47) (140) (70)
Pension curtailment gain—
 —
 —
 (675)
Remeasurement loss, net30
 —
 30
 157
Net periodic pension cost (benefit)$17
 $38
 $(9) $(447)

The service cost component of net periodic pension cost (benefit) is recorded in operating costs and expenses in the consolidated statements of operations while the remaining components are recorded in other pension benefits (costs). During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, settlements for lump-sum distributions to qualified and nonqualified pension plan participants exceeded the estimated annual interest cost of the plans. As a result, the pension liability and pension asset values were reassessed as of September 30, 2017 utilizing remeasurement date assumptions in accordance with the Company's mark-to-market pension accounting policy to record gains and losses in the period in which a remeasurement event occurs. The $30 million remeasurement loss recorded during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily driven by the adoption of the revised lump sum conversion mortality tables published by the Internal Revenue Service effective January 1, 2018, and the effects of a decrease of the discount rate from 4.20% at December 31, 2016 to 3.88% at September 30, 2017. The effects of these changes were partially offset by a gain to record pension assets to fair value at September 30, 2017. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets remains at 6.50%.

The $675 million pension curtailment gain and $157 million net remeasurement loss recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 resulted from an amendment to the plans made subsequent to the TWC Transaction. During the second quarter of 2016, the Company amended the pension plans to freeze future benefit accruals to current active plan participants, driving the recognition of the pension curtailment gain, as no No future compensation increases or future service will be credited to participants of the pension plans. Upon announcement and approvalplans given the frozen nature of the plan amendment,plans.


20

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)

The components of net periodic pension benefit (costs) for the assumptions underlying the pension liabilitythree months ended March 31, 2021 and pension asset values were reassessed utilizing remeasurement date assumptions, resulting2020 are recorded in in other income (expenses), net in the net remeasurement loss.consolidated statements of operations and consisted of the following:


Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Interest cost$(24)$(28)
Expected return on plan assets42 38 
Net periodic pension benefits$18 $10 

The Company made no cash contributions to the qualified pension plans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 2016;2020; however, the Company may make discretionary cash contributions to the qualified pension plans in the future. Such contributions will be dependent on a variety of factors, including current and expected interest rates, asset performance, the funded status of the qualified pension plans and management’s judgment. For the nonqualified unfunded pension plan, the Company will continue to make contributions during 20172021 to the extent benefits are paid.




22

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)


18.    Consolidating Schedules

Each of Charter Operating, TWC, LLC, TWCE, CCO Holdings and certain subsidiaries jointly, severally, fully and unconditionally guarantee the outstanding debt securities of the others (other than the CCO Holdings notes) on an unsecured senior basis and the condensed consolidating financial information has been prepared and presented pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10, Financial Statements of Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities Registered or Being Registered. Certain Charter Operating subsidiaries that are regulated telephone entities only become guarantor subsidiaries upon approval by regulators. This information is not intended to present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the individual companies or groups of companies in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The “Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries” column is presented to comply with the terms of the Credit Agreement.

The “Safari Escrow Entities” column included in the condensed consolidating financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 consists of CCOH Safari, CCO Safari II and CCO Safari III. CCOH Safari, CCO Safari II and CCO Safari III issued the CCOH Safari notes, CCO Safari II notes and the CCO Safari III credit facilities, respectively. Upon closing of the TWC Transaction, the CCOH Safari notes became obligations of CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital and the CCO Safari II notes and CCO Safari III credit facilities became obligations of Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. CCOH Safari merged into CCO Holdings and CCO Safari II and CCO Safari III merged into Charter Operating.

Condensed consolidating financial statements as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 follow.


23

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)


Charter Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
As of September 30, 2017
            
 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries    
 Charter Intermediate Holding Companies CCO Holdings Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries Eliminations Charter Consolidated
ASSETS           
CURRENT ASSETS:           
Cash and cash equivalents$—
 $190
 $—
 $1,974
 $—
 $2,164
Accounts receivable, net46
 33
 —
 1,573
 —
 1,652
Receivables from related party20
 616
 51
 —
 (687) —
Prepaid expenses and other current assets—
 41
 —
 275
 —
 316
Total current assets66
 880
 51
 3,822
 (687) 4,132
            
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES:          
Property, plant and equipment, net—
 234
 —
 33,066
 —
 33,300
Customer relationships, net—
 —
 —
 12,589
 —
 12,589
Franchises—
 —
 —
 67,316
 —
 67,316
Goodwill—
 —
 —
 29,554
 —
 29,554
Total investment in cable properties, net—
 234
 —
 142,525
 —
 142,759
            
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES59,684
 68,003
 85,011
 —
 (212,698) —
LOANS RECEIVABLE – RELATED PARTY163
 655
 511
 —
 (1,329) —
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS—
 222
 —
 1,115
 —
 1,337
            
Total assets$59,913
 $69,994
 $85,573
 $147,462
 $(214,714) $148,228
            
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’/MEMBER’S EQUITY      
CURRENT LIABILITIES:           
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities$13
 $835
 $339
 $7,164
 $—
 $8,351
Payables to related party—
 —
 —
 687
 (687) —
Current portion of long-term debt—
 —
 —
 2,068
 —
 2,068
Total current liabilities13
 835
 339
 9,919
 (687) 10,419
            
LONG-TERM DEBT—
 —
 17,231
 48,833
 —
 66,064
LOANS PAYABLE – RELATED PARTY—
 —
 —
 1,329
 (1,329) —
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES26,514
 23
 —
 39
 —
 26,576
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES157
 127
 —
 2,307
 —
 2,591
            
SHAREHOLDERS’/MEMBER’S EQUITY           
Controlling interest33,229
 59,684
 68,003
 85,011
 (212,698) 33,229
Noncontrolling interests—
 9,325
 —
 24
 —
 9,349
Total shareholders’/member’s equity33,229
 69,009
 68,003
 85,035
 (212,698) 42,578
            
Total liabilities and shareholders’/member’s equity$59,913
 $69,994
 $85,573
 $147,462
 $(214,714) $148,228



24

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)


Charter Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2016
            
 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries    
 Charter Intermediate Holding Companies CCO Holdings Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries Eliminations Charter Consolidated
ASSETS           
CURRENT ASSETS:           
Cash and cash equivalents$57
 $154
 $—
 $1,324
 $—
 $1,535
Accounts receivable, net34
 11
 —
 1,387
 —
 1,432
Receivables from related party170
 451
 62
 —
 (683) —
Prepaid expenses and other current assets—
 33
 —
 300
 —
 333
Total current assets261
 649
 62
 3,011
 (683) 3,300
            
INVESTMENT IN CABLE PROPERTIES:          
Property, plant and equipment, net—
 245
 —
 32,718
 —
 32,963
Customer relationships, net—
 —
 —
 14,608
 —
 14,608
Franchises—
 —
 —
 67,316
 —
 67,316
Goodwill—
 —
 —
 29,509
 —
 29,509
Total investment in cable properties, net—
 245
 —
 144,151
 —
 144,396
            
INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARIES66,692
 75,838
 88,760
 —
 (231,290) —
LOANS RECEIVABLE – RELATED PARTY—
 640
 494
 —
 (1,134) —
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS—
 214
 —
 1,157
 —
 1,371
            
Total assets$66,953
 $77,586
 $89,316
 $148,319
 $(233,107) $149,067
            
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’/MEMBER’S EQUITY      
CURRENT LIABILITIES:           
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities$22
 $625
 $219
 $6,678
 $—
 $7,544
Payables to related party—
 —
 —
 683
 (683) —
Current portion of long-term debt—
 —
 —
 2,028
 —
 2,028
Total current liabilities22
 625
 219
 9,389
 (683) 9,572
            
LONG-TERM DEBT—
 —
 13,259
 46,460
 —
 59,719
LOANS PAYABLE – RELATED PARTY—
 —
 —
 1,134
 (1,134) —
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES26,637
 3
 —
 25
 —
 26,665
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES155
 64
 —
 2,526
 —
 2,745
            
SHAREHOLDERS’/MEMBER’S EQUITY           
Controlling interest40,139
 66,692
 75,838
 88,760
 (231,290) 40,139
Noncontrolling interests—
 10,202
 —
 25
 —
 10,227
Total shareholders’/member’s equity40,139
 76,894
 75,838
 88,785
 (231,290) 50,366
            
Total liabilities and shareholders’/member’s equity$66,953
 $77,586
 $89,316
 $148,319
 $(233,107) $149,067



25

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



Charter Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017
            
 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries    
 Charter Intermediate Holding Companies CCO Holdings Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries Eliminations Charter Consolidated
REVENUES$79
 $897
 $—
 $30,979
 $(976) $30,979
            
COSTS AND EXPENSES:           
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below)79
 883
 —
 19,871
 (976) 19,857
Depreciation and amortization—
 7
 —
 7,839
 —
 7,846
Other operating expenses, net—
 —
 —
 374
 —
 374
 79
 890
 —
 28,084
 (976) 28,077
Income from operations—
 7
 —
 2,895
 —
 2,902
            
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):           
Interest income (expense), net4
 14
 (631) (1,637) —
 (2,250)
Loss on extinguishment of debt—
 —
 (33) (2) —
 (35)
Loss on financial instruments, net—
 —
 —
 (15) —
 (15)
Other pension benefits—
 —
 —
 9
 —
 9
Other expense, net—
 (12) —
 (2) —
 (14)
Equity in income of subsidiaries390
 548
 1,212
 —
 (2,150) —
 394
 550
 548
 (1,647) (2,150) (2,305)
            
Income before income taxes394
 557
 548
 1,248
 (2,150) 597
INCOME TAX EXPENSE(52) (12) —
 (35) —
 (99)
Consolidated net income342
 545
 548
 1,213
 (2,150) 498
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests—
 (155) —
 (1) —
 (156)
Net income$342
 $390
 $548
 $1,212
 $(2,150) $342



26

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



Charter Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the nine months ended September 30, 2016
              
 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries   Guarantor Subsidiaries    
 Charter Intermediate Holding Companies Safari Escrow Entities CCO Holdings Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries Eliminations Charter Consolidated
REVENUES$231
 $797
 $—
 $—
 $18,728
 $(1,028) $18,728
              
COSTS AND EXPENSES:             
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below)231
 781
 —
 —
 12,173
 (1,028) 12,157
Depreciation and amortization—
 3
 —
 —
 4,409
 —
 4,412
Other operating expenses, net262
 1
 —
 —
 513
 —
 776
 493
 785
 —
 —
 17,095
 (1,028) 17,345
Income (loss) from operations(262) 12
 —
 —
 1,633
 —
 1,383
              
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):             
Interest income (expense), net—
 10
 (390) (539) (852) —
 (1,771)
Loss on extinguishment of debt—
 —
 —
 (110) —
 —
 (110)
Gain on financial instruments, net—
 —
 —
 —
 16
 —
 16
Other pension benefits—
 —
 —
 —
 533
 —
 533
Other expense, net—
 (8) —
 —
 (2) —
 (10)
Equity in income (loss) of subsidiaries188
 288
 —
 1,327
 —
 (1,803) —
 188
 290
 (390) 678
 (305) (1,803) (1,342)
              
Income (loss) before income taxes(74) 302
 (390) 678
 1,328
 (1,803) 41
INCOME TAX BENEFIT (EXPENSE)3,142
 (7) —
 —
 —
 —
 3,135
Consolidated net income (loss)3,068
 295
 (390) 678
 1,328
 (1,803) 3,176
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests—
 (107) —
 —
 (1) —
 (108)
Net income (loss)$3,068
 $188
 $(390) $678
 $1,327
 $(1,803) $3,068



27

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)



Charter Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017
            
 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries    
 Charter Intermediate Holding Companies CCO Holdings Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries Eliminations Charter Consolidated
Consolidated net income$342
 $545
 $548
 $1,213
 $(2,150) $498
Net impact of interest rate derivative instruments4
 4
 4
 4
 (12) 4
Foreign currency translation adjustment1
 1
 1
 1
 (3) 1
Consolidated comprehensive income347
 550
 553
 1,218
 (2,165) 503
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests—
 (155) —
 (1) —
 (156)
Comprehensive income$347
 $395
 $553
 $1,217
 $(2,165) $347

Charter Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the nine months ended September 30, 2016
              
 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries   Guarantor Subsidiaries    
 Charter Intermediate Holding Companies Safari Escrow Entities CCO Holdings Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries Eliminations Charter Consolidated
Consolidated net income (loss)$3,068
 $295
 $(390) $678
 $1,328
 $(1,803) $3,176
Net impact of interest rate derivative instruments6
 6
 —
 6
 6
 (18) 6
Foreign currency translation adjustment(1) (1) —
 (1) (1) 3
 (1)
Consolidated comprehensive income (loss)$3,073
 $300
 $(390) $683
 $1,333
 $(1,818) $3,181
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests—
 (107) —
 —
 (1) —
 (108)
Comprehensive income (loss)$3,073
 $193
 $(390) $683
 $1,332
 $(1,818) $3,073






28

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)


Charter Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017
            
 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries    
 Charter Intermediate Holding Companies CCO Holdings Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries Eliminations Charter Consolidated
NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES$95
 $80
 $(504) $9,025
 $—
 $8,696
            
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:           
Purchases of property, plant and equipment—
 —
 —
 (6,096) —
 (6,096)
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures—
 —
 —
 276
 —
 276
Contributions to subsidiaries(111) —
 (693) —
 804
 —
Distributions from subsidiaries7,759
 8,641
 5,912
 —
 (22,312) —
Other, net—
 —
 —
 (63) —
 (63)
Net cash flows from investing activities7,648
 8,641
 5,219
 (5,883) (21,508) (5,883)
            
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:           
Borrowings of long-term debt—
 —
 4,747
 7,368
 —
 12,115
Repayments of long-term debt—
 —
 (775) (4,759) —
 (5,534)
Borrowings (repayments) loans payable - related parties(163) —
 —
 163
 —
 —
Payments for debt issuance costs—
 —
 (46) (37) —
 (83)
Purchase of treasury stock(7,748) —
 —
 —
 —
 (7,748)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options111
 —
 —
 —
 —
 111
Purchase of noncontrolling interest—
 (922) —
 —
 —
 (922)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest—
 (115) —
 —
 —
 (115)
Contributions from parent—
 111
 —
 693
 (804) —
Distributions to parent—
 (7,759) (8,641) (5,912) 22,312
 —
Other, net—
 —
 —
 (8) —
 (8)
Net cash flows from financing activities(7,800) (8,685) (4,715) (2,492) 21,508
 (2,184)
            
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS(57) 36
 —
 650
 —
 629
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period57
 154
 —
 1,324
 —
 1,535
            
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period$—
 $190
 $—
 $1,974
 $—
 $2,164


29

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)


Charter Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the nine months ended September 30, 2016
              
 Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries   Guarantor Subsidiaries    
 Charter Intermediate Holding Companies Safari Escrow Entities CCO Holdings Charter Operating and Restricted Subsidiaries Eliminations Charter Consolidated
NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES$(233) $(27) $(463) $(533) $6,071
 $—
 $4,815
              
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:             
Purchases of property, plant and equipment—
 —
 —
 —
 (3,437) —
 (3,437)
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures—
 —
 —
 —
 86
 —
 86
Purchases of cable systems, net of cash acquired(26,781) (2,022) —
 —
 (7) —
 (28,810)
Contribution to subsidiary(996) (478) —
 (437) —
 1,911
 —
Distributions from subsidiaries23,417
 25,437
 —
 3,455
 —
 (52,309) —
Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents—
 —
 22,264
 —
 —
 —
 22,264
Other, net—
 —
 —
 —
 (8) —
 (8)
Net cash flows from investing activities(4,360) 22,937
 22,264
 3,018
 (3,366) (50,398) (9,905)
              
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:             
Borrowings of long-term debt—
 —
 —
 3,201
 2,796
 —
 5,997
Repayments of long-term debt—
 —
 —
 (2,937) (1,183) —
 (4,120)
Borrowings (payments) loans payable - related parties—
 (300) 553
 (71) (182) —
 —
Payments for debt issuance costs—
 —
 —
 (73) (210) —
 (283)
Issuance of equity5,000
 —
 —
 —
 —
 —
 5,000
Purchase of treasury stock(448) —
 —
 —
 —
 —
 (448)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options71
 —
 —
 —
 —
 —
 71
Distributions to noncontrolling interest—
 (55) —
 —
 —
 —
 (55)
Proceeds from termination of interest rate derivatives—
 —
 —
 —
 88
 —
 88
Contributions from parent—
 996
 —
 478
 437
 (1,911) —
Distributions to parent—
 (23,417) (22,353) (3,084) (3,455) 52,309
 —
Other, net—
 5
 (1) 1
 (5) —
 —
Net cash flows from financing activities4,623
 (22,771) (21,801) (2,485) (1,714) 50,398
 6,250
              
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS30
 139
 —
 —
 991
 —
 1,160
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period—
 —
 —
 —
 5
 —
 5
              
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period$30
 $139
 $—
 $—
 $996
 $—
 $1,165


30

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)


19.22.    Recently Issued Accounting Standards


ASU No. 2020-06, Accounting Standards Adopted January 1, 2017for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity's Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”)


In March 2016,August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”("FASB") issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, Standards Update ("ASU") 2020-06, which includes multiple provisions intended to simplify various aspects of the accounting for share-based payments. The new standard (1) requires all excess tax benefits and deficiencies to be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement in the period in which they occur regardless of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable in the current period, (2) requires classification of excess tax benefits as an operating activity on the statements of cash flows, (3) allows an entity to make an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expectedaccounting models for convertible instruments, amends diluted earnings per share calculations for convertible instruments and allows more contracts to vest or account for forfeitures when they occur and (4) causes the threshold under which employee share-based awards partially settled in cash can qualify for equity classification to increase to the maximum statutory tax rates in the applicable jurisdiction.classification. ASU 2016-09 will be effective for interim and annual periods after December 15, 2016 (January 1, 2017 for the Company). The new standard generally requires a modified retrospective transition through a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the period of adoption, with certain provisions requiring either a prospective or retrospective transition. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 on January 1, 2017. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-09, the Company recognized excess tax benefits of approximately $136 million in deferred tax assets that were previously not recognized in a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings. The Company will prospectively record a deferred tax benefit or expense associated with the difference between book and tax for stock compensation expense. On January 1, 2017, the Company also established an accounting policy election to assume zero forfeitures for stock award grants and account for forfeitures when they occur which prospectively impacts stock compensation expense. Other aspects of adoption ASU 2016-09 did not have a material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost ("ASU 2017-07"), which requires employers to report the service cost component of net periodic pension cost in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. The standard also requires the other components of net periodic cost be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside of a subtotal of income from operations. ASU 2017-07 will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted. The new standard requires retrospective application and allows a practical expedient that permits an employer to use the amounts disclosed in its pension plan footnote for the prior comparative periods as the estimation basis for applying the retrospective presentation. The Company early adopted ASU 2017-07 on January 1, 2017 and utilized the practical expedient to estimate the impact on the prior comparative period information presented in interim and annual financial statements. The Company previously recorded service cost with other compensation costs in operating costs and expenses in the consolidated statements of operations, and recorded other pension benefits (costs), in other operating expenses, net. Adoption of the standard results in the reclassification of other pension benefits (costs) to other expenses, net (non-operating). Adopting the standard will reduce 2016 income from operations presented for comparative purposes in the 2017 annual financial statements by $899 million with a corresponding decrease to other expenses of $899 million, with no impact to net income. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the adoption of the standard resulted in reductions of income from operations by $13 million and $533 million, respectively, with corresponding decreases to other expenses, with no impact to net income. ASU 2017-07 does not impact the consolidated balance sheets or statements of cash flows.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), which is a comprehensive revenue recognition standard that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP.  The new standard provides a single principles-based, five-step model to be applied to all contracts with customers, which steps are to (1) identify the contract(s) with the customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (5) recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. ASU 2014-092020-06 will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (January 1, 2018 for the Company).2021. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has substantially completed the review of its revenue arrangements and does not currently expect that theelected to early adopt ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2021. The adoption of the new standard willASU 2020-06 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. However, the adoption is anticipated to result in the deferral of residential installation revenues and enterprise commission expenses over a period of time instead of recognized immediately. The adoption is also anticipated to result in the reclassification to operating costs and expenses the amortization of up-front fees paid to market and serve customers who reside in residential multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”) instead of amortized as an intangible to depreciation and amortization expense. The new standard also requires additional disclosures regarding the nature, timing and uncertainty of the Company’s


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CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts and where indicated)


revenue transactions. The Company intends to adopt the provisions of the guidance using a cumulative effect adjustment as of the January 1, 2018 adoption date.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”), which requires lessees to recognize almost all leases on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. Lessees are allowed to account for short-term leases (i.e., leases with a term of 12 months or less) off-balance sheet, consistent with current operating lease accounting. For income statement purposes, the FASB retained a dual model, requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance. Classification will be based on criteria that are largely similar to those applied in current lease accounting, but without explicit bright lines. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 (January 1, 2019 for the Company). The new standard requires a modified retrospective transition through a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements including identifying the population of leases, evaluating technology solutions and collecting lease data.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”), which clarifies how entities should classify cash receipts and cash payments related to eight specific cash flow matters on the statement of cash flows, with the objective of reducing existing diversity in practice. ASU 2016-15 will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (January 1, 2018 for the Company). Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have on itsCompany's consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU 2017-04”), which eliminates step two from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new standard, to the extent the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value, the Company will record an impairment charge equal to the difference. The impairment charge recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. ASU 2017-04 will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 (January 1, 2020 for the Company). Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2017-04 will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Scope of Modification Accounting ("ASU 2017-09"), which amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements. The ASU provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting. ASU 2017-09 will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after the effective date. ASU 2017-09 will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (January 1, 2018 for the Company). Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2017-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements.




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Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.


General


Charter Communications, Inc. (together with its controlled subsidiaries, “Charter”) is the second largest cable operator in the United States and a leading broadband communications servicesconnectivity company providing video, Internet and voice services to approximately 27.0cable operator serving more than 31 million customers in 41 states through our Spectrum brand. Over an advanced high-capacity, two-way telecommunications network, we offer a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business customers at September 30, 2017. In addition, we sell videoservices including Spectrum Internet, TV, Mobile and onlineVoice. For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach delivers tailored advertising inventory to local, regional and national advertising customers and fiber-delivered communications and managed information technology ("IT") solutions to larger enterprise customers.production for the modern media landscape. We also owndistribute award-winning news coverage, sports and operate regional sports networkshigh-quality original programming to our customers through Spectrum Networks and local sports, news and community channels and sell security and home management services to the residential marketplace.Spectrum Originals.


Charter is a holding company whose principal asset is a controlling equity interest in Charter Communications Holdings, LLC (“Charter Holdings”), an indirect owner of Charter Communications Operating, LLC (“Charter Operating”) under which substantially all of the operations reside. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions among consolidated entities have been eliminated.


The TransactionsOverview


On May 18, 2016,In the first quarters of both 2021 and 2020, the Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic has significantly impacted how our customers use our products and services, how they interact with us, and how our employees work and provide services to our customers. During the first quarter of 2021, customer activity levels remained below normal which contributed to lower operating expense from reduced service transactions contemplatedand significantly lower bad debt, however, we expect those trends to slowly return to pre-COVID-19 levels throughout 2021 as the economy reopens and normal activities resume.

Although the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be predicted, we remain focused on driving customer relationship growth by deploying superior products and services packaged with attractive pricing. Further, we expect to continue to drive customer relationship growth through sales of bundled services and improving customer retention despite the Agreementexpectation for continued losses of video and Plan of Mergers dated as of May 23, 2015 (the “Merger Agreement”), bywireline voice customers.

Our Spectrum Mobile service is offered to customers subscribing to our Internet service and among Time Warner Cable Inc. (“Legacy TWC”), Charterruns on Verizon Communications Inc. prior's ("Verizon") mobile network combined with Spectrum WiFi. We continue to the closing of the Merger Agreementexplore ways to drive even more mobile traffic to our network. We intend to use Citizens Broadband Radio Service (“Legacy Charter”CBRS”), CCH I, LLC, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of Legacy Charter and certain other subsidiaries of CCH I, LLC were completed (the “TWC Transaction,” and together Priority Access Licenses (“PALs”) we purchased in 2020, along with the Bright House Transaction described below, the “Transactions”). As a result of the TWC Transaction, CCH I, LLC became the new public parent company that holds the operations of the combined companies and was renamed Charter Communications, Inc.

Also, on May 18, 2016, Legacy Charter and Advance/Newhouse Partnership (“A/N”), the former parent of Bright House Networks, LLC (“Legacy Bright House”), completed their previously announced transaction, pursuantunlicensed CBRS spectrum to a definitive Contribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”), underbuild our own 5G mobile network which Charter acquired Legacy Bright House (the “Bright House Transaction”). Pursuantwe plan to the Bright House Transaction, Charter became the owner of the membership interestsuse in Legacy Bright House and the other assets primarily related to Legacy Bright House (other than certain excluded assets and liabilities and non-operating cash).

In connectioncombination with the TWC Transaction, Legacy Charter and Liberty Broadband completed their previously announced transactions pursuant to their investment agreement, in which Liberty Broadband purchased shares of Charter Class A common stock to partially finance the cash portion of the TWC Transaction consideration, and in connection with the Bright House Transaction, Liberty Broadband purchased shares of Charter Class A common stock (the “Liberty Transactions”).

Comcast Wireless Cooperation Agreement

In May 2017, Charter announced an agreement with Comcast Corporation (“Comcast”) to, for one year, explore potential opportunities for operational cooperation in our respective wireless businesses to accelerate and enhance each company’s ability to participate in the national wireless marketplace. Charter and Comcast have each separately activated a mobile virtual network operator (“MVNO”) reseller agreement with Verizon Wireless, and have each agreedWiFi network to explore working together in a number of potential operational areas inenhance the wireless space, including: creating common operating platforms; technical standards developmentcustomer’s experience and harmonization; device forward and reverse logistics; and emerging wireless technology platforms. The efficiencies created are expected to provide more choice, innovative products and competitive prices for customers in eachimprove our cost structure.

We believe Spectrum-branded mobile services will drive higher sales of our respective footprints. Additionally, the companies have agreed to work only together with respect to national mobile network operators, through potential commercial arrangements, including MVNOs and other material transactions in the wireless industry, for a period of one year. We intend to consider and pursue opportunities in the wireless space which may include entering into joint ventures or partnerships with wireless or cable providers which may require significant investment in our wireless business. There is no assurance we will enter into such arrangements or that if we do, that they will be successful.

Overview

Since 2012, Legacy Charter has actively invested in its network and operations and has improved the quality and value of thecore products, and packages that it offers. Through the roll-out of Spectrum pricing and packaging ("SPP") across Legacy Charter, we have simplified our offers and improved our packaging of products, delivering more value to new and existing customers. Further, through the transition of our Legacy Charter markets to our all-digital platform, we increased our offerings to more than 200 HD channels in most of the Legacy Charter markets and offered Internet speeds of at least 60 or 100 Mbps, among other benefits. We


33


believe that this product set combined with improved customer service, as we insource our workforce in our call centers and in our field operations, has led to lower customer churn andcreate longer customer lifetimes.

In September 2016, we began launching SPP to Legacy TWClives and Legacy Bright House marketsincrease profitability and as of September 30, 2017, we offer SPP in all Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House markets. In the second half of 2017, we began converting the remaining Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House analog markets to an all-digital platform. The bulk of this all-digital initiative will take place in 2018. Our corporate organization, as well as our marketing, sales and product development departments, are now centralized. Field operations are managed through eleven regional areas, each designed to represent a combination of designated marketing areas and managed with largely the same set of field employees that were with the three legacy companies prior to completion of the Transactions. Over a multi-year period, Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House customer care centers will migrate to Legacy Charter's model of using segmented, virtualized, U.S.-based in-house call centers. We are focused on deploying superior products and service with minimal service disruptions as we integrate our information technology and network operations. We expect customer and financial results to trend similarly to Legacy Charter following the implementation of Legacy Charter's operating strategies across the Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House markets.cash flow over time. As a result of implementinggrowth costs associated with our operating strategy across Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House,new mobile product line, we cannot be certain that we will be able to grow revenues or maintain our margins at recent historical rates. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, our mobile product line increased revenues by $492 million and $258 million, respectively, reduced Adjusted EBITDA by approximately $80 million and $116 million, respectively, and reduced free cash flow by approximately $184 million and $260 million, respectively. Primarily as a result of growth-related sales and marketing and other customer acquisition costs for mobile services, and depending on the pace of that growth, we expect mobile Adjusted EBITDA will continue to be negative. We also expect to continue to see negative free cash flow from the timing of device-related cash flows when we sell devices to customers pursuant to equipment installment plans and capital expenditures related to retail store and CBRS build-out.


22


We realized revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and income from operations during the periods presented as follows (in millions; all percentages are calculated using whole numbers. Minor differences may exist due to rounding).:


Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020% Change
Revenues$12,522 $11,738 6.7 %
Adjusted EBITDA$4,945 $4,396 12.5 %
Income from operations$2,068 $1,802 14.8 %
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 % Change 2017 2016 % Change
 Actual
Revenues$10,458
 $10,037
 4.2 % $30,979
 $18,728
 65.4%
Adjusted EBITDA$3,819
 $3,636
 5.0 % $11,320
 $6,739
 68.0%
Income from operations$909
 $911
 (0.2)% $2,902
 $1,383
 109.8%

 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016  
 Actual Pro forma % Change
Revenues$30,979
 $29,748
 4.1%
Adjusted EBITDA$11,320
 $10,611
 6.7%
Income from operations$2,902
 $2,813
 3.2%


Adjusted EBITDA is defined as consolidated net income attributable to Charter shareholders plus net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock compensation expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, (gain) loss on financial instruments, net, other pension (benefits) costs, other (income) expense,expenses, net and other operating (income) expenses, net, such as merger and restructuring costs, special charges and gain (loss)(gain) loss on sale or retirement of assets. See “—Use of Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow” for further information on Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. 


Growth in total revenue and Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding prior period was primarily due to growth in our residential Internet and commercial businesses, and growth for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding prior period was primarily due to the Transactions. On a pro forma basis for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, total revenue growth was primarily due to growth in our Internet and commercial businesses offset by an early contract termination benefit at Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House in 2016 and lower advertising sales revenue due to a decrease in political and local advertising. In addition to the items noted above,mobile customers. Adjusted EBITDA growth on a pro forma basis was affected by increases in programming costs and transition costs offset by decreases in costs to service customers and other operating expenses. Income from operations on a pro forma basis was additionally affected by an increase in depreciation and amortization offset by a decrease in merger and restructuring costs.

On a pro forma basis, income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 has beengrowth was impacted by growth in revenue and reduced from what was previously reported by $549 million to reflect the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Costservice transactions and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost ("ASU 2017-07"). For more information, see Note 19 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”lower bad debt.



34



We incurred the following transition costs in connection with the Transactions (in millions).

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Operating expenses$23
 $32
 $104
 $78
Other operating expenses$67
 $205
 $293
 $775
Interest expense$—
 $—
 $—
 $390
Capital expenditures$125
 $109
 $287
 $273

Amounts included in transition operating expenses and transition capital expenditures represent incremental costs incurred to integrate the Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House operations and to bring the three companies’ systems and processes into a uniform operating structure.  Costs are incremental and would not be incurred absent the integration.  Other operating expenses associated with the Transactions represent merger and restructuring costs and include advisory, legal and accounting fees, employee retention costs, employee termination costs and other exit costs.  Interest expense associated with the Transactions represents interest incurred on the CCO Safari II, CCO Safari III and CCOH Safari notes issued in advance of the closing of the Transactions, the proceeds of which were held in escrow to finance the Transactions.

Our net losses in prior years were principally attributable to insufficient revenue to cover the combination of operating expenses, interest expenses that we incur on our debt, depreciation expenses resulting from the capital investments we have made, and continue to make, in our cable properties, amortization expenses related to our customer relationship intangibles and higher non-cash income tax expense. Although we have incurred net income since completion of the Transactions, we will incur significant increases in interest expense and depreciation and amortization as a result of the Transactions and will incur restructuring and transition costs for at least two years from acquisition date, and as a result, we may incur net losses in the future.



35


All customer statistics as of September 30, 2017 include the operations of Legacy TWC, Legacy Bright House and Legacy Charter, each of which is based on individual legacy company reporting methodology. These methodologies differ and their differences may be material. Statistical reporting will be conformed over time to a single reporting methodology. The following table summarizes our customer statistics for Internet, video, Internetvoice and voicemobile as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 20162020 (in thousands except per customer data and footnotes).


Approximate as of
March 31,
2021 (a)
2020 (a)
Customer Relationships (b)
Residential29,361 27,745 
Small and Medium Business ("SMB")2,071 1,976 
Total Customer Relationships31,432 29,721 
Monthly Residential Revenue per Residential Customer (c)
$112.18 $112.73 
Monthly SMB Revenue per SMB Customer (d)
$163.79 $168.83 
Internet
Residential27,357 25,471 
SMB1,877 1,775 
Total Internet Customers29,234 27,246 
Video
Residential15,483 15,550 
SMB579 524 
Total Video Customers16,062 16,074 
Voice
Residential9,113 9,360 
SMB1,238 1,162 
Total Voice Customers10,351 10,522 
Mobile Lines
Residential2,605 1,359 
SMB70 13 
Total Mobile Lines2,675 1,372 
Enterprise Primary Service Units ("PSUs") (e)
276269 

 Approximate as of
 September 30,
 2017 (a) 2016 (a)(b)
Customer Relationships (c)   
Residential25,470
 24,551
Small and Medium Business1,523
 1,367
Total Customer Relationships26,993
 25,918
    
Residential Primary Service Units (“PSU”)   
Video16,542
 16,887
Internet22,282
 21,017
Voice10,405
 10,288
 49,229
 48,192
    
Monthly Residential Revenue per Residential Customer (d)$110.12
 $109.70
    
Small and Medium Business PSUs   
Video440
 388
Internet1,321
 1,185
Voice881
 751
 2,642
 2,324
    
Monthly Small and Medium Business Revenue per Customer (e)$206.64
 $214.53
    
Enterprise PSUs (f)108
 93
23

(a)We calculate the aging of customer accounts based on the monthly billing cycle for each account. On that basis, as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, customers include approximately 218,300 and 200,900 customers, respectively, whose accounts were over 60 days past due, approximately 20,300 and 15,200 customers, respectively, whose accounts were over 90 days past due, and approximately 12,000 and 8,900 customers, respectively, whose accounts were over 120 days past due.
(b)In the second quarter of 2017, we conformed the seasonal customer program in the Legacy Bright House footprint to our program. Prior to the plan change, Legacy Bright House customers enrolling in the seasonal plan were charged a one-time fee and counted as customer disconnects, and as new connects, when moving off the seasonal plan. Under our seasonal plan, residential customers pay a reduced monthly fee while the seasonal plan is active and remain reported as customers. Excluding the impact of net customer disconnect activity related to the previous seasonal plan, Legacy Bright House residential customer relationships, video, Internet and voice PSUs at September 30, 2016 would have been higher by approximately 54,000, 48,000, 66,000 and 45,000 respectively.
(c)Customer relationships include the number of customers that receive one or more levels of service, encompassing video, Internet and voice services, without regard to which service(s) such customers receive. Customers who reside in residential multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”) and that are billed under bulk contracts are counted based on the number of billed units within each bulk MDU. Total customer relationships excludes enterprise customer relationships.
(d)Monthly residential revenue per residential customer is calculated as total residential video, Internet and voice quarterly revenue divided by three divided by average residential customer relationships during the respective quarter.
(e)Monthly small and medium business revenue per customer is calculated as total small and medium business quarterly revenue divided by three divided by average small and medium business customer relationships during the respective quarter.
(f)Enterprise PSUs represent the aggregate number of fiber service offerings counting each separate service offering as an individual PSU.



36




(a)We calculate the aging of customer accounts based on the monthly billing cycle for each account. On that basis, as of March 31, 2021 and 2020, customers include approximately 125,100 and 140,800 customers, respectively, whose accounts were over 60 days past due, approximately 26,500 and 12,500 customers, respectively, whose accounts were over 90 days past due and approximately 20,000 and 8,200 customers, respectively, whose accounts were over 120 days past due. Included in the March 31, 2021 aging statistics are approximately 26,900 residential voice customers that would have been disconnected under our normal collection policies, but were not due to certain state mandates in place.
(b)Customer relationships include the number of customers that receive one or more levels of service, encompassing Internet, video and voice services, without regard to which service(s) such customers receive. Customers who reside in residential multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”) and that are billed under bulk contracts are counted based on the number of billed units within each bulk MDU. Total customer relationships exclude enterprise and mobile-only customer relationships.
(c)Monthly residential revenue per residential customer is calculated as total residential quarterly revenue divided by three divided by average residential customer relationships during the respective quarter and excludes mobile revenue and customers.
(d)Monthly SMB revenue per SMB customer is calculated as total SMB quarterly revenue divided by three divided by average SMB customer relationships during the respective quarter and excludes mobile revenue and customers.
(e)Enterprise PSUs represent the aggregate number of fiber service offerings counting each separate service offering at each customer location as an individual PSU.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates


For a discussion of our critical accounting policies and the means by which we develop estimates therefore, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 20162020 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no material changes from the critical accounting policies described in our Form 10-K.



24

Results of Operations

We completed the Transactions on May 18, 2016 and have included the Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House operating results since that date. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), operating results from Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House prior to the closing of the Transactions have been excluded. For purposes of management’s discussion and analysis, we have given explanations of increases and decreases in our results of operations on an actual basis, as well as on a pro forma basis assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015. Due to the size of the Transactions, we believe that providing a discussion of our results of operations on a pro forma basis provides management and investors a more meaningful perspective on our financial and operational performance and trends. The results of operations data on a pro forma basis are provided for illustrative purposes only and are based on available information and assumptions that we believe are reasonable and do not purport to represent what our actual consolidated results of operations would have been had the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, nor are they necessarily indicative of future consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position.

See Exhibit 99.1 in Charter's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 filed with the SEC on November 3, 2016 for pro forma financial information for each quarter of 2015 and the first and second quarter of 2016.



37



The following table sets forth the consolidated statements of operations for the periods presented (dollars in millions, except per share data):


Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Revenues$12,522 $11,738 
Costs and Expenses:
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below)7,711 7,432 
Depreciation and amortization2,441 2,497 
Other operating expenses, net302 7 
10,454 9,936 
Income from operations2,068 1,802 
Other Income (Expenses):
Interest expense, net(983)(980)
Other income (expenses), net52 (326)
(931)(1,306)
Income before income taxes1,137 496 
Income tax expense(216)(29)
Consolidated net income921 467 
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests(114)(71)
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders$807 $396 
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHARTER SHAREHOLDERS:
Basic$4.22 $1.91 
Diluted$4.11 $1.86 
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic191,404,527 207,831,305 
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted205,872,536 212,810,613 
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Revenues$10,458
 $10,037
 $30,979
 $18,728
        
Costs and Expenses:       
Operating costs and expenses (exclusive of items shown separately below)6,703
 6,482
 19,857
 12,157
Depreciation and amortization2,701
 2,437
 7,846
 4,412
Other operating expenses, net145
 207
 374
 776
 9,549
 9,126
 28,077
 17,345
Income from operations909
 911
 2,902
 1,383
        
Other Expenses:       
Interest expense, net(788) (724) (2,250) (1,771)
Loss on extinguishment of debt—
 —
 (35) (110)
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net17
 71
 (15) 16
Other pension benefits (costs)(17) 13
 9
 533
Other expense, net(3) (5) (14) (10)
 (791) (645) (2,305) (1,342)
        
Income before income taxes118
 266
 597
 41
Income tax benefit (expense)(26) (16) (99) 3,135
Consolidated net income92
 250
 498
 3,176
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests(44) (61) (156) (108)
        
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders$48
 $189
 $342
 $3,068
       
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CHARTER SHAREHOLDERS:       
Basic$0.19
 $0.70
 $1.31
 $16.52
Diluted$0.19
 $0.69
 $1.29
 $15.23
        
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic253,923,805
 271,263,259
 262,074,603
 185,706,106
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted258,341,851
 275,373,202
 266,363,602
 208,460,148


Revenues.Total revenues grew $421$784 million and $12.3 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 compared to the corresponding periodsperiod in 2016, respectively,2020 primarily due to increases in the number of residential Internet and commercial business customers as well as price adjustments offset by a decrease in basic videomobile customers and advertising sales, and in the nine month period due to the Transactions which increased total revenues by approximately $11.4 billion. On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, total revenue growth was 4.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016.price adjustments.



3825



Revenues by service offering were as follows (dollars in millions; all percentages are calculated using whole numbers. Minor differences may exist due to rounding):


Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020% Change
Internet$5,086 $4,407 15.4 %
Video4,344 4,422 (1.8)%
Voice399 457 (12.6)%
Residential revenue9,829 9,286 5.8 %
Small and medium business1,012 996 1.6 %
Enterprise638 622 2.5 %
Commercial revenue1,650 1,618 2.0 %
Advertising sales344 365 (5.8)%
Mobile492 258 90.7 %
Other207 211 (2.0)%
$12,522 $11,738 6.7 %
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 % Change 2017 2016 % Change
 Actual
Video$4,213
 $4,094
 2.9 % $12,416
 $7,869
 57.8%
Internet3,556
 3,206
 10.9 % 10,467
 5,960
 75.6%
Voice611
 728
 (16.1)% 1,955
 1,286
 51.9%
Residential revenue8,380
 8,028
 4.4 % 24,838
 15,115
 64.3%
            
Small and medium business931
 867
 7.4 % 2,755
 1,589
 73.3%
Enterprise553
 508
 8.9 % 1,640
 903
 81.6%
Commercial revenue1,484
 1,375
 8.0 % 4,395
 2,492
 76.3%
            
Advertising sales373
 420
 (11.1)% 1,091
 729
 49.9%
Other221
 214
 3.0 % 655
 392
 66.9%
 $10,458
 $10,037
 4.2 % $30,979
 $18,728
 65.4%


The increase in Internet revenues from our residential customers is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016  
 Actual Pro forma % Change
Video$12,416
 $12,292
 1.0 %
Internet10,467
 9,376
 11.6 %
Voice1,955
 2,186
 (10.6)%
Residential revenue24,838
 23,854
 4.1 %
      
Small and medium business2,755
 2,518
 9.4 %
Enterprise1,640
 1,499
 9.4 %
Commercial revenue4,395
 4,017
 9.4 %
      
Advertising sales1,091
 1,190
 (8.2)%
Other655
 687
 (4.8)%
 $30,979
 $29,748
 4.1 %
Three months ended
March 31, 2021
compared to
three months ended
March 31, 2020
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in average residential Internet customers$358 
Increase related to rate, product mix and bundle allocation changes321 
$679 



Residential Internet customers grew by 1,886,000 customers from March 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021. The increase related to rate, product mix and bundle allocation changes was primarily due to price adjustments including annual increases, promotional roll-off and higher bundled revenue allocation.



39


Video revenues consist primarily of revenues from basic and digital video services provided to our residential customers, as well as franchise fees, equipment rentalservice fees and video installation revenue. Residential video customers decreased by 345,000 from September 30, 2016 to September 30, 2017.

The increasedecrease in video revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):


Three months ended
March 31, 2021
compared to
three months ended
March 31, 2020
Increase / (Decrease)
Decrease related to rate, product mix and bundle allocation changes$(47)
Decrease in video on demand and pay-per-view(20)
Decrease in installation(10)
Decrease in average residential video customers(1)
$(78)

The decrease related to rate, product mix and bundle allocation changes was primarily due to a higher mix of lower cost video packages within our video customer base and lower bundled revenue allocation, partly offset by price adjustments including annual increases and promotional roll-off. Residential video customers decreased by 67,000 from March 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021.

 Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)		 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Bundle revenue allocation and price adjustments$140
 $169
Increase in video on demand and pay-per-view55
 45
Decrease in average basic video customers(76) (102)
TWC Transaction—
 3,806
Bright House Transaction—
 629
 $119
 $4,547
26

On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, the increase in video revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Bundle revenue allocation and price adjustments$299
Increase in video on demand and pay-per-view46
Decrease in average basic video customers(221)
 $124

Residential Internet customers grew by 1,265,000 customers from September 30, 2016 to September 30, 2017. The increase in Internet revenues from our residential customers is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)		 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in average residential Internet customers$205
 $410
Price adjustments, bundle revenue allocation and service level changes145
 258
TWC Transaction—
 3,268
Bright House Transaction—
 571
 $350
 $4,507



40



On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, the increase in Internet revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in average residential Internet customers$629
Price adjustments, bundle revenue allocation and service level changes462
 $1,091

Residential voice customers grew by 117,000 customers from September 30, 2016 to September 30, 2017. The changedecrease in voice revenues from our residential customers is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):


Three months ended
March 31, 2021
compared to
three months ended
March 31, 2020
Increase / (Decrease)
Decrease related to rate and bundle allocation changes$(47)
Decrease in average residential voice customers(11)
$(58)
 Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)		 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Bundle revenue allocation and price adjustments$(126) $(180)
Increase in average residential voice customers9
 20
TWC Transaction—
 707
Bright House Transaction—
 122
 $(117) $669


The decrease related to rate and bundle allocation changes was impacted by value-based pricing and changes in bundled revenue allocations. Residential wireline voice customers decreased by 247,000 customers from March 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021.
On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, the decrease in voice revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Bundle revenue allocation and price adjustments$(271)
Increase in average residential voice customers40
 $(231)

Small and medium business PSUs grew by 318,000 from September 30, 2016 to September 30, 2017. The increase in small and medium businessSMB commercial revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):


Three months ended
March 31, 2021
compared to
three months ended
March 31, 2020
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in SMB customers$47 
Decrease related to rate and product mix changes(31)
$16 
 Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)		 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in small and medium business customers$100
 $195
Price adjustments(36) (58)
TWC Transaction—
 890
Bright House Transaction—
 139
 $64
 $1,166


SMB customers grew by 95,000 from March 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021. The decrease related to rate and product mix changes was primarily due to value-based pricing related to Spectrum pricing and packaging ("SPP") and some continuing COVID-19 related seasonal plans, net of promotional roll-off and price adjustments.

41



On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, the increase in small and medium business commercial revenues is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in small and medium business customers$299
Price adjustments(62)
 $237


Enterprise PSUs increased 15,000 from September 30, 2016 to September 30, 2017. Enterprise commercial revenues increased $45 million and $737$16 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding periods in 2016,March 31, 2021, respectively, primarily due to growth in customers and in the nine month period due to the Transactions which increased enterprise commercial revenues by $655 million. On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, enterprise commercial revenues increased $141 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 20162020 primarily due to growthan increase in customers.Internet and video enterprise PSUs offset by lower wholesale PSUs. Enterprise PSUs increased 7,000 from March 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021.


Advertising sales revenues consist primarily of revenues from commercial advertising customers, programmers and other vendors, as well as local cable and advertising on regional sports and news channels. Advertising sales revenues decreased $47$21 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 as compared to the corresponding period in 20162020 primarily due to a decrease in political revenue, partially offset by higher advanced advertising. Advertising sales revenues increased $362 million during

During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017 compared toMarch 31, 2021 and 2020, mobile revenues represented approximately $228 million and $131 million of device revenues, respectively, and approximately $264 million and $127 million of service revenues, respectively. The increases in revenues are a result of increases in the corresponding period in 2016 primarily due to the Transactions which increased advertising sales revenues by $425 million. On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurrednumber of mobile lines from 1,372,000 as of January 1, 2015, advertising sales revenues decreased $99 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 comparedMarch 31, 2020 to the corresponding period in 2016 primarily due to a decrease in political and local advertising.2,675,000 mobile lines as of March 31, 2021.


Other revenues consist of revenue from regional sports and news channels (excluding intercompany charges or advertising sales on those channels), home shopping, late payment fees, video device sales, wire maintenance fees and other miscellaneous revenues. Other revenues increased $7 million and $263decreased $4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2016. The Transactions increased other revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 by $255 million. On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, other revenues decreased by $32 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 20162020 primarily due to a settlement incurreddecrease in 2016 related tolate payment fees offset by an early contract termination at Legacy TWCincrease in regional sports and Legacy Bright House.news revenue.



27

Operating costs and expenses. The increasesincrease in our operating costs and expenses, exclusive of items shown separately in the consolidated statements of operations, are attributable to the following (dollars in millions):


Three months ended
March 31, 2021
compared to
three months ended
March 31, 2020
Increase / (Decrease)
Programming$96 
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content49 
Costs to service customers(44)
Marketing(15)
Mobile198 
Other(5)
$279 
 Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)		 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Programming$295
 $3,304
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content8
 609
Costs to service customers(73) 2,135
Marketing33
 669
Transition costs(9) 26
Other(33) 957
 $221
 $7,700



42



Programming costs were approximately $2.7$3.0 billion and $2.4$2.9 billion, representing 40% and 37%39% of total operating costs and expensesexpense for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 2016, respectively, and $8.0 billion and $4.6 billion, representing 40% and 38% of total operating costs and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016,2020, respectively. The increase in operating costs and expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding prior period was primarily due to an increase in programming costs and the Transactions.

The change in other expense is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)		 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Corporate costs$(35) $225
Enterprise4
 240
Advertising sales expense12
 245
Property tax and insurance1
 115
Stock compensation expense(17) 30
Other2
 102
 $(33) $957

The increase in other expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding prior period was primarily due to the Transactions.

On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, increases in our operating costs and expenses, exclusive of items shown separately in the consolidated statements of operations, are attributable to the following (dollars in millions):

 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Programming$724
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content(17)
Costs to service customers(135)
Marketing8
Transition costs26
Other(105)
 $501

On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, programming costs were approximately $7.2 billion, representing 37% of total operating costs and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Programming costs consist primarily of costs paid to programmers for basic, digital, premium, video on demand, and pay-per-view programming. The increase in programmingProgramming costs for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and nine months ended September 30, 2017, on a pro forma basis assuming the Transactions occurredincreased as of January 1, 2015, compared to the corresponding periods in 2016 is primarily a result of contractual rate adjustments, including renewals and increases in amounts paid for retransmission consents, higher expanded basic package customers and higher pay-per-view eventsconsent offset by synergies as a resulthigher mix of the Transactions.lower cost video packages within our video customer base. We expect programming expensesrates per customer will continue to increase due to a variety of factors, including annual increases imposed by programmers with additional selling power as a result of media and broadcast station groups consolidation, increased demands by owners of broadcast stations for payment for retransmission consent or linking carriage of other services to retransmission consent, and additional programming, particularly new services.programming. We have been unable to fully pass these increases on to our customers norand do wenot expect to be able to do so in the future without a potential loss of customers.



Regulatory, connectivity and produced content increased $49 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021, respectively, compared to the corresponding period in 2020 primarily due to higher sports rights costs as a result of more basketball games during the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the corresponding period in 2020 as the prior period had postponement of games and the current period had additional games due to the delayed start of the 2020 - 2021 NBA season as a result of COVID-19.
43




Costs to service customers decreased $73 million and $135$44 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and nine months ended September 30, 2017, on a pro forma basis assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015,March 31, 2021 compared to the corresponding periodsperiod in 20162020 primarily due to benefits from combining Legacy TWCa decrease in bad debt expense as a result of lower write-offs and Legacy Bright House into Charter, including lower employee benefit and maintenance costs,higher recoveries enhanced by the stimulus packages offset by higher labor costs resulting from our commitment to a minimum $20 per hour wage in 2022, along with 5.8% customer growth.

Mobile costs of $572 million and material capitalization with increases$374 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, were comprised of mobile device costs and mobile service, customer acquisition and operating costs. The increase is attributable to an increase in placementthe number of new customer equipment and improved productivity.mobile lines.


On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, the increase

28

The decrease in other expense is attributable to the following (dollars in millions):


Three months ended
March 31, 2021
compared to
three months ended
March 31, 2020
Increase / (Decrease)
Corporate costs$(30)
Advertising sales expense(17)
Property tax and insurance(6)
Stock compensation expense44 
Enterprise2 
Other2 
$(5)
 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Corporate costs$(139)
Enterprise21
Advertising sales expense38
Property tax and insurance(15)
Stock compensation expense(21)
Other11
 $(105)


Corporate costs decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the corresponding prior period primarily due to a non-recurring adjustment to bonuses related to COVID-19. Advertising sales expense decreased due to lower cost of sales fees driven by lower revenue, as well as lower bad debt. Stock compensation expense increased during the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the corresponding period in 2020 primarily due to changes in certain equity award provisions that result in additional expense at the time of grant.

Depreciation and amortization.Depreciation and amortization expense increaseddecreased by $264$56 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 compared to the corresponding period in 20162020 primarily due to a decrease in depreciation and amortization as certain assets acquired in acquisitions become fully depreciated offset by an increase in depreciation as a result of highermore recent capital expenditures in the current year. Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $3.4 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 primarily as a result of additional depreciation and amortization related to the Transactions, inclusive of the incremental amounts as a result of the higher fair values recorded in acquisition accounting.expenditures.


Other operating expenses, net. The decreasechange in other operating expenses, net areis attributable to the following (dollars in millions):


Three months ended
March 31, 2021
compared to
three months ended
March 31, 2020
Increase / (Decrease)
Special charges, net$239 
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net56 
$295 
 Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)		 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Merger and restructuring costs$(138) $(482)
Special charges, net76
 76
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net—
 4
 $(62) $(402)


See Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements” for more information.
The decrease in merger and restructuring costs during
Interest expense, net. Net interest expense decreased by $3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding periods in 2016 is primarily due to a decrease of approximately $118 million and $208 million, respectively, of employee termination and retention costs. The decrease during the nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 compared to the corresponding period in 20162020. The decrease in net interest expense is also due to approximately $262 millionthe result of contingent financing and advisory transaction fees paid at the closing of the Transactionsreductions in 2016.Theweighted average interest rates offset by an increase in special charges, netweighted average debt outstanding of approximately $4.6 billion during the three and nine months endedSeptember 30, 2017 March 31, 2021 compared to the corresponding period in 20162020. The increase in weighted average debt outstanding is primarily due to an $83 million charge relatedthe issuance of notes throughout 2020 and 2021 for general corporate purposes including stock buybacks and debt repayments.


29

Other income (expenses), net. The change in other income (expenses), net is attributable to the Company's withdrawal liability from a multiemployer pension plan. following (dollars in millions):

Three months ended
March 31, 2021
compared to
three months ended
March 31, 2020
Increase / (Decrease)
Loss on extinguishment of debt$(2)
Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net366 
Other pension benefits, net8 
Gain on equity investments, net6 
$378 

See Note 1114 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements” for more information.

Income tax expense.We recognized income tax expense of $216 million and $29 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase is primarily a result of higher pretax income. For more information, see Note 16 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”


Interest expense, net. Net interest expense increased by $64 million and $479 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding periods in 2016 primarily as a result of an increase in weighted average debt outstanding primarily due to the issuance of notes in 2017. Interest expense associated with debt assumed from Legacy TWC


44


also increased interest expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 by approximately $350 million.

Loss on extinguishment of debt. Loss on extinguishment of debt of $35 million and $110 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, primarily represents losses recognized as a result of repurchases of CCO Holdings, LLC ("CCO Holdings") notes. For more information, see Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”

Gain (loss) on financial instruments, net. We recorded a gain of $17 million and a loss of $15 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively and gains of $71 million and $16 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. Gains and losses on financial instruments are recognized due to changes in the fair value of our interest rate and our cross currency derivative instruments, and the foreign currency remeasurement of the fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated notes (the “Sterling Notes”) into U.S. dollars. For more information, see Note 8 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”

Other pension benefits (costs). Other pension benefits decreased by $30 million and $524 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2016. The decrease during the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 was primarily due to a third quarter 2017 remeasurement as a result of significant lump sum settlement payments to participants. The decrease during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016 was also affected by a $675 million pension curtailment gain offset by an $157 million net remeasurement loss recognized in 2016 that resulted from an amendment to the plans made subsequent to the TWC Transaction. For more information, see Note 17 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”

Other expense, net. Other expense, net primarily represents equity losses on our equity-method investments.

Income tax benefit (expense).We recognized income tax expense of $26 million and $99 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and income tax expense of $16 million and income tax benefit of $3.1 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. Income tax expense is recognized primarily through increases in deferred tax liabilities, as well as through current federal and state income tax expense. Income tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was reduced by approximately $17 million and $88 million, respectively, due to the recognition of excess tax benefits resulting from share based compensation as a component of the provision for income taxes following the prospective application of ASU 2016-09. For more information, see Note 19 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.” Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was also impacted by a change in a state tax law that resulted in approximately $44 million of tax benefit. Income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was the result of a reduction of substantially all of Legacy Charter's preexisting valuation allowance associated with its deferred tax assets of approximately $3.3 billion as certain of the deferred tax liabilities that were assumed in connection with the closing of the TWC Transaction will reverse and provide a source of future taxable income. For more information, see Note 12 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest for financial reporting purposes represents A/N’s portion of Charter Holdings’ net income based on its effective common unit ownership interest of approximately 10% and the preferred dividend of $37 million and $112$38 million for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2021 and $37 million and $55 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.2020. For more information, see Note 78 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”


Net income attributable to Charter shareholders.Net income attributable to Charter shareholders decreasedincreased from $189$396 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016March 31, 2020 to $48$807 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, and from $3.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 to $342 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 primarily as a result of the factors described above. On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, net income attributable to Charter shareholders was $616 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.


Use of Adjusted EBITDAand Free Cash Flow


We use certain measures that are not defined by GAAPU.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") to evaluate various aspects of our business. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, consolidated net income attributable to Charter shareholders and net cash flows from operating activities reported in accordance with GAAP. These terms, as defined by us, may not


45


be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are reconciled to consolidated net income attributable to Charter shareholders and net cash flows from operating activities, respectively, below.


Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the significant non-cash depreciation and amortization expense that results from the capital-intensive nature of our businesses as well as other non-cash or special items, and is unaffected by our capital structure or investment activities. However, this measure is limited in that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues and our cash cost of financing. These costs are evaluated through other financial measures.


Free cash flow is defined as net cash flows from operating activities, less capital expenditures and changes in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures.


Management and Charter’s board of directors use Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow to assess our performance and our ability to service our debt, fund operations and make additional investments with internally generated funds. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA generally correlates to the leverage ratio calculation under our credit facilities or outstanding notes to determine compliance with the covenants contained in the facilities and notes (all such documents have been previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)). For the purpose of calculating compliance with leverage covenants, we use Adjusted EBITDA, as presented, excluding certain expenses paid by our operating subsidiaries to other Charter entities. Our debt covenants refer to these expenses as management fees, which were $262$277 million and $791$311 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2021 and $231 million and $535 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016,2020, respectively.



 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
 Actual
Consolidated net income$92
 $250
 $498
 $3,176
Plus: Interest expense, net788
 724
 2,250
 1,771
Income tax (benefit) expense26
 16
 99
 (3,135)
Depreciation and amortization2,701
 2,437
 7,846
 4,412
Stock compensation expense64
 81
 198
 168
Loss on extinguishment of debt—
 —
 35
 110
(Gain) loss on financial instruments, net(17) (71) 15
 (16)
Other pension (benefits) costs17
 (13) (9) (533)
Other, net148
 212
 388
 786
Adjusted EBITDA$3,819
 $3,636
 $11,320
 $6,739
        
Net cash flows from operating activities$2,908
 $2,801
 $8,696
 $4,815
Less: Purchases of property, plant and equipment(2,393) (1,748) (6,096) (3,437)
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures79
 (52) 276
 86
Free cash flow$594
 $1,001
 $2,876
 $1,464
30


46



A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow to net income attributable to Charter shareholders and net cash flows from operating activities, respectively, is as follows (dollars in millions).

Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders$807 $396 
Plus: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest114 71 
Interest expense, net983 980 
Income tax expense216 29 
Depreciation and amortization2,441 2,497 
Stock compensation expense134 90 
Other expenses, net250 333 
Adjusted EBITDA$4,945 $4,396 
Net cash flows from operating activities$3,751 $3,220 
Less: Purchases of property, plant and equipment(1,821)(1,461)
Change in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures(75)(388)
Free cash flow$1,855 $1,371 

 Nine Months Ended
 September 30, 2016
 Pro forma
Consolidated net income$830
Plus: Interest expense, net2,155
Income tax expense288
Depreciation and amortization7,060
Stock compensation expense219
Loss on extinguishment of debt110
Gain on financial instruments, net(16)
Other pension benefits(549)
Other, net514
Adjusted EBITDA$10,611

Liquidity and Capital Resources


Introduction


This section contains a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources, including a discussion of our cash position, sources and uses of cash, access to credit facilities and other financing sources, historical financing activities, cash needs, capital expenditures and outstanding debt.


2017 Financing ActivitiesRecent Events


In January 2017,March 2021, Charter Operating entered into an amendment to its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 18, 2016 decreasing the applicable LIBOR margin on both the term loan E and term loan F to 2.00% and eliminating the LIBOR floor.

In February 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO HoldingsCharter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.500% senior secured notes due June 2041 at a price of 99.544% of the aggregate principal amount, $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125%3.900% senior secured notes due May 1, 2027. The net proceeds were used to redeem CCO Holdings’ 6.625% senior notes due 2022, pay related feesJune 2052 at a price of 99.951% of the aggregate principal amount and expenses and for general corporate purposes.

In March 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued an additional $1.0 billion$500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125%3.850% senior secured notes due May 1, 2027April 2061 at a price of 99.0% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds, as well as cash on hand, were used in April 2017 to redeem Time Warner Cable, LLC's 5.850% senior notes due 2017, pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes.

In April 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued an additional $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due May 1, 2027 at a price of 100.5%94.668% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fundfunding buybacks of Charter Class A common stock orand Charter Holdings common units.units as well as repaying certain indebtedness, including $750 million of CCO Holdings, LLC 5.750% notes due February 2026.

In April 2017, Charter Operating2021, CCO Holdings and Charter Communications OperatingCCO Holdings Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.25$1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.375%4.500% senior securedunsecured notes due May 1, 20472033 at a price of 99.968% of the aggregate principal amount.par. The net proceeds werewill be used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund potential buybacks of Charter Class A common stock orand Charter Holdings common units.

In July 2017, Charter Operatingunits, to repay certain indebtedness and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.750% senior notes due February 15, 2028 at a price of 99.166% of the aggregate principal amount and an additional $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 106.529% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.expenses.

In August 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2028. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.



47


In September 2017, Charter Operating and Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp. jointly issued $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.200% senior notes due March 15, 2028 at a price of 99.757% of the aggregate principal amount and an additional $750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior secured notes due May 1, 2047 at a price of 98.969% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.

In October 2017, CCO Holdings and CCO Holdings Capital jointly issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.000% senior notes due March 1, 2023 and an additional $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.000% senior notes due February 1, 2028 at a price of 98.5% of the aggregate principal amount. The net proceeds were used to pay related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes, including to fund buybacks of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units.


Overview of Our Contractual Obligations and Liquidity


We have significant amounts of debt. The principal amount of our debt as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 was $66.8$84.3 billion, consisting of $8.8$10.1 billion of credit facility debt, $40.6$50.8 billion of investment grade senior secured notes and $17.4$23.5 billion of high-yield senior unsecured notes. Our business requires significant cash to fund principal and interest payments on our debt. 


Our projected cash needs and projected sources of liquidity depend upon, among other things, our actual results, and the timing and amount of our expenditures. As we continue to grow our mobile services, we expect an initial funding period to grow a new product as well as negative working capital impacts from the timing of device-related cash flows when we sell devices to customers pursuant to equipment installment plans. Free cash flow was $594 million$1.9 billion and $2.9$1.4 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2021 and was $1.0 billion and $1.5 billion2020, respectively. See table below for factors impacting free cash flow during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.March 31, 2021 compared to the corresponding prior period. As of September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021, the amount available under our credit facilities was approximately $2.9$4.7 billion and cash on hand was approximately $2.2 billion.$772 million. We expect to utilize free cash

31

flow, cash on hand and availability under our credit facilities as well as future refinancing transactions to further extend the maturities of our obligations. The timing and terms of any refinancing transactions will be subject to market conditions.conditions among other considerations. Additionally, we may, from time to time, and depending on market conditions and other factors, use cash on hand and the proceeds from securities offerings or other borrowings to retire our debt through open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases, tender offers or redemption provisions. We believe we have sufficient liquidity from cash on hand, free cash flow and Charter Operating’s revolving credit facility as well as access to the capital markets to fund our projected cash needs.


We continue to evaluate the deployment of our cash on hand and anticipated future free cash flow including to invest in our business growth and other strategic opportunities, including mergers and acquisitions as well as stock repurchases and dividends. OurCharter's target leverage of net debt to the last twelve months Adjusted EBITDA remains at 4 to 4.5 times Adjusted EBITDA, and up to 3.5 times Adjusted EBITDA at the Charter Operating first lien level. We mayOur leverage ratio was 4.4 times Adjusted EBITDA as of March 31, 2021. As Adjusted EBITDA grows, we expect to increase the total amount of our indebtedness to maintain leverage within ourCharter's target leverage range. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, weMarch 31, 2021 and 2020, Charter purchased approximately 9.54.7 million and 21.94.5 million shares, respectively, of Charter Class A common stock, respectively, for approximately $3.5$3.0 billion and $7.6$2.2 billion, respectively. AsSince the beginning of its buyback program in September 30, 2017,2016 through March 31, 2021, Charter had remaining board authority to purchase an additional $5.2 billionhas purchased approximately 92.4 million shares of Charter’s Class A common stock without taking into account shares or units that may be purchased from A/N. Charter is not obligated to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and the timing of anyfor approximately $37.6 billion, excluding purchases that may occur cannot be predicted and will largely depend on market conditions and other potential uses of capital. Purchases may include open market purchases, tender offers or negotiated transactions. As possible acquisitions, swaps or dispositions arise, we actively review them against our objectives including, among other considerations, improving the operational efficiency, clustering, product development or technology capabilities of our business and achieving appropriate return targets, and we may participate to the extent we believe these possibilities present attractive opportunities. However, there can be no assurance that we will actually complete any acquisitions, dispositions or system swaps, or that any such transactions will be material to our operations or results.by Liberty Broadband Corporation (“Liberty Broadband”) discussed below.


In December 2016, Charter and Advance/Newhouse Partnership (“A/NN”) entered into a letter agreement, as amended in December 2017 (the "Letter"A/N Letter Agreement"), that requires A/N to sell to Charter or to Charter Holdings, on a monthly basis, a number of shares of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units that represents a pro rata participation by A/N and its affiliates in any repurchases of shares of Charter Class A common stock from persons other than A/N effected by Charter during the immediately preceding calendar month, at a purchase price equal to the average price paid by Charter for the shares repurchased from persons other than A/N during such immediately preceding calendar month. A/N and Charter both have the right to terminate or suspend the pro rata repurchase arrangement on a prospective basis once Charter or Charter Holdings have repurchased sharesbasis. During each of Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units from A/Nthe three months ended March 31, 2021 and its affiliates for an aggregate purchase price of $537 million which threshold has been reached.2020, Charter Holdings purchased from A/N 1.40.8 million Charter Holdings common units, respectively, for approximately $507 million and $393 million, respectively.

In February 2021, Charter and Liberty Broadband entered into a letter agreement (the “LBB Letter Agreement”). The LBB Letter Agreement implements Liberty Broadband’s obligations under the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement with Charter, Liberty Broadband and A/N, dated as of May 23, 2015 (as amended, the “Stockholders Agreement”) to participate in share repurchases by Charter. Under the LBB Letter Agreement, Liberty Broadband will sell to Charter, generally on a monthly basis, a number of shares of Charter Class A common stock representing an amount sufficient for Liberty Broadband’s ownership of Charter to be reduced such that it does not exceed the ownership cap then applicable to Liberty Broadband under the Stockholders Agreement at ana purchase price per share equal to the volume weighted average price per unitshare paid by Charter for shares repurchased during such immediately preceding calendar month other than (i) purchases from A/N, (ii) purchases in privately negotiated transactions or (iii) purchases for the withholding of $355.83, shares of Charter Class A common stock pursuant to equity compensation programs of Charter. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, Charter purchased from Liberty Broadband 0.8 million shares of Charter Class A common stock for approximately $518 million. In April 2021, the Company purchased from Liberty Broadband an additional 0.7 million shares of Charter Class A common stock for approximately $460 million.

As of March 31, 2021, Charter had remaining board authority to purchase an additional $1.2 billion of Charter’s Class A common stock and/or $493Charter Holdings common units. Although Charter expects to continue to buy back its common stock consistent with its leverage target range, Charter is not obligated to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and the timing of any purchases that may occur cannot be predicted and will largely depend on market conditions and other potential uses of capital.Purchases may include open market purchases, tender offers or negotiated transactions.

As possible acquisitions, swaps or dispositions arise, we actively review them against our objectives including, among other considerations, improving the operational efficiency, geographic clustering of assets, product development or technology capabilities of our business and achieving appropriate return targets, and we may participate to the extent we believe these possibilities present attractive opportunities. However, there can be no assurance that we will actually complete any acquisitions, dispositions or system swaps, or that any such transactions will be material to our operations or results.


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Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow increased $484 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017, and 2.7 million Charter Holdings common units at an average price per unit of $341.49, or $922 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.



48


Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow decreased $407 million and increased $1.4 billion during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2021 compared to the corresponding prior periodsperiod in 20162020 due to the following (dollars in millions).


Three months ended
March 31, 2021
compared to
three months ended
March 31, 2020
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in Adjusted EBITDA$549 
Changes in working capital, excluding change in accrued interest515 
Decrease in cash paid for interest, net23 
Increase in capital expenditures(360)
Other, net(243)
$484 
 Three months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
three months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)		 Nine months ended
September 30, 2017
compared to
nine months ended
September 30, 2016
Increase / (Decrease)
Increase in Adjusted EBITDA$183
 $4,581
Decrease in merger and restructuring costs87
 323
Increase in capital expenditures(645) (2,659)
Decrease (increase) in cash paid for interest, net61
 (606)
Changes in working capital, excluding change in accrued interest(123) (237)
Other, net30
 10
 $(407) $1,412


Free cash flow was reduced by $184 million and $260 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, due to mobile with impacts negatively affecting working capital, capital expenditures and Adjusted EBITDA.

Limitations on Distributions


Distributions by our subsidiaries to a parent company for payment of principal on parent company notes are restricted under CCO Holdings indentures and Charter Operating credit facilities governing our indebtedness, unless there is no default under the applicable indenture and credit facilities, and unless each applicable subsidiary’sentity’s leverage ratio test is met at the time of such distribution. As of September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021, there was no default under any of these indentures or credit facilities, and each subsidiaryapplicable entity met its applicable leverage ratio tests based on September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 financial results. Such distributions would be restricted, however, if any such subsidiary fails to meet these tests at the time of the contemplated distribution. There can be no assurance that they will satisfy these tests at the time of the contemplated distribution. Distributions by Charter Operating for payment of principal on parent company (CCO Holdings) notes are further restricted by the covenants in its credit facilities.


However, without regard to leverage, during any calendar year or any portion thereof during which the borrower is a flow-through entity for tax purposes, and so long as no event of default exists, the borrower may make distributions to the equity interests of the borrower in an amount sufficient to make permitted tax payments.


In addition to the limitation on distributions under the various indentures, discussed above, distributions by our subsidiaries may be limited by applicable law, including the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, under which our subsidiaries may only make distributions if they have “surplus” as defined in the act.


Historical Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities


Cash and Cash Equivalents. We held $2.2$772 million and $1.0 billion and $1.5 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2016,2020, respectively.


Operating Activities.Net cash provided by operating activities increased $3.9 billion$531 million during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 compared to the ninethree months ended September 30, 2016,March 31, 2020, primarily due to an increase in Adjusted EBITDA of $4.6 billion offset by an increase in cash paid for interest, net of $606 million as a result of the Transactions.$549 million.


Investing Activities.Net cash used in investing activities was $5.9$2.0 billion and $9.9$1.9 billion for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 2016,2020, respectively. The decreaseincrease in cash used was primarily due to the acquisition of Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House in 2016 offset by an increase in capital expenditures as a result of the Transactions.offset by lower changes in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures.


Financing Activities.Net cash used in financing activities was $2.2$2.0 billion for each of the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and net cash provided by financing activities was $6.3 billion for2020 as thenine months ended September 30, 2016. The decrease in cash provided was primarily due to a decrease in equity issued for the acquisition of Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House in 2016 and an increase in the purchase of treasury stock and noncontrolling interest in 2017was offset by an increase in the amount by which borrowings of long-term debt exceedingexceeded repayments.





4933



Capital Expenditures


We have significant ongoing capital expenditure requirements.  Capital expenditures were $2.4$1.8 billion and $6.1$1.5 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2021 and $1.7 billion and $3.4 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016,2020, respectively.  The increase during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 2016 was driven by the Transactions. On a pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, capital expenditures increased $439 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the corresponding period in 2016. The increase during the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 2016 was primarily due to higher spend onan increase in scalable infrastructure driven by augmentation of network capacity for customer premise equipment duegrowth and usage, with incremental spending to the launch of SPP and our all-digital initiativereclaim network headroom maintained prior to COVID-19, and higher scalable infrastructure costs and support primarily dueline extensions driven by continued network expansion, including to the timing of spend.rural areas. See the table below for more details.
 
We currently expect 2021 cable capital expenditures, excluding Rural Digital Opportunity Fund ("RDOF") investments which will begin later this year, to be relatively consistent as a percentage of cable revenue versus 2020. The actual amount of our capital expenditures in 20172021 will depend on a number of factors including the pace of transition planningfurther spend related to service a larger customer base as a result of the Transactions, our all-digital transition in the Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House marketsproduct development and growth rates of both our residential and commercial businesses.


Our capital expenditures are funded primarily from cash flows from operating activities and borrowings on our credit facility. In addition, our accrued liabilities related to capital expenditures increaseddecreased by $276$75 million and $86$388 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 2016,2020, respectively.


The following tables present our major capital expenditures categories on an actual and pro forma basis, assuming the Transactions occurred as of January 1, 2015, in accordance with National Cable and Telecommunications Association (“NCTA”) disclosure guidelines for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 2016. The disclosure is intended to provide more consistency in the reporting of capital expenditures among peer companies in the cable industry.2020. These disclosure guidelines are not required disclosures under GAAP, nor do they impact our accounting for capital expenditures under GAAP (dollars in millions):


Three Months Ended March 31,
20212020
Customer premise equipment (a)$489 $463 
Scalable infrastructure (b)411 170 
Line extensions (c)399 343 
Upgrade/rebuild (d)145 129 
Support capital (e)377 356 
Total capital expenditures$1,821 $1,461 
Capital expenditures included in total related to:
Commercial services$333 $261 
Mobile$112 $87 
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
 Actual
Customer premise equipment (a)$855
 $662
 $2,579
 $1,177
Scalable infrastructure (b)632
 441
 1,282
 937
Line extensions (c)319
 249
 864
 467
Upgrade/rebuild (d)163
 156
 415
 307
Support capital (e)424
 240
 956
 549
Total capital expenditures$2,393
 $1,748
 $6,096
 $3,437
        
Capital expenditures included in total related to:       
Commercial services$339
 $306
 $941
 $566
Transition (f)$125
 $109
 $287
 $273

(a)Customer premise equipment includes costs incurred at the customer residence to secure new customers and revenue generating units, including customer installation costs and customer premise equipment (e.g., digital receivers and cable modems).
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 Pro Forma
Customer premise equipment (a)$2,074
Scalable infrastructure (b)1,556
Line extensions (c)751
Upgrade/rebuild (d)461
Support capital (e)815
Total capital expenditures$5,657
  
Capital expenditures included in total related to: 
Commercial services$931
Transition (f)$273
(b)Scalable infrastructure includes costs not related to customer premise equipment, to secure growth of new customers and revenue generating units, or provide service enhancements (e.g., headend equipment).

(c)Line extensions include network costs associated with entering new service areas (e.g., fiber/coaxial cable, amplifiers, electronic equipment, make-ready and design engineering).

(d)Upgrade/rebuild includes costs to modify or replace existing fiber/coaxial cable networks, including betterments.

(e)Support capital includes costs associated with the replacement or enhancement of non-network assets due to technological and physical obsolescence (e.g., non-network equipment, land, buildings and vehicles).
50


(a)Customer premise equipment includes costs incurred at the customer residence to secure new customers and revenue generating units. It also includes customer installation costs and customer premise equipment (e.g., set-top boxes and cable modems).
(b)Scalable infrastructure includes costs not related to customer premise equipment, to secure growth of new customers and revenue generating units, or provide service enhancements (e.g., headend equipment).
(c)Line extensions include network costs associated with entering new service areas (e.g., fiber/coaxial cable, amplifiers, electronic equipment, make-ready and design engineering).
(d)Upgrade/rebuild includes costs to modify or replace existing fiber/coaxial cable networks, including betterments.
(e)Support capital includes costs associated with the replacement or enhancement of non-network assets due to technological and physical obsolescence (e.g., non-network equipment, land, buildings and vehicles).
(f)Transition represents incremental costs incurred to integrate the Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House operations and to bring the three companies' systems and processes into a uniform operating structure.


Recently Issued Accounting Standards


See Note 1922 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements” for a discussion of recently issued accounting standards.



34

Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.


We use derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk on variable debt and foreign exchange risk on the Sterling Notes, and do not hold or issue derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes.

Interest rate derivative instruments are used to manage interest costs and to reduce our exposure to increases in floating interest rates. We manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates by maintaining a mix of fixed and variable-rate debt. Using interest rate derivative instruments, we agree to exchange, at specified intervals through 2017, the difference between fixed and variable interest amounts calculated by reference to agreed-upon notional principal amounts.


Cross-currency derivative instruments are used to effectively convert £1.275 billion aggregate principal amount of fixed-rate British pound sterling denominated debt, including annual interest payments and the payment of principal at maturity, to fixed-rate U.S. dollar denominated debt. The cross-currency derivative instruments have maturities of June 2031 and July 2042. We are required to post collateral on the cross-currency derivative instruments when such instruments are in a liability position. In May 2016,April 2019, we entered into a collateral holiday agreement for 80%60% of both the 2031 and 2042 cross-currency swaps, which eliminates the requirement to post collateral for three years.years, as well as a ten year collateral cap on the remaining 40% of the cross-currency swaps which limits the required collateral posting on that 40% of the cross-currency swaps to $150 million. In March 2021, the collateral holiday for 20% of the swaps was extended to November 2022 in consideration for our agreement to post collateral over a threshold amount on that 20% portion of the swaps from March 2021 through October 2021. For more information, see Note 89 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements.”

As of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2016,2020, the weighted average interest rate on the credit facility debt including the effects of our interest rate swap agreements, was approximately 3.3%1.7% and 2.9%1.7%, respectively, and the weighted average interest rate on the senior notes was approximately 5.7%5.0% and 5.9%5.1%, respectively, resulting in a blended weighted average interest rate of 5.4% as of both time periods.4.6% and 4.7%, respectively. The interest rate on approximately 88% and 87% of the total principal amount of our debt was effectively fixed including the effects of our interest rate swap agreements as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2016, respectively.2020.


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The table set forth below summarizes the fair values and contract terms of financial instruments subject to interest rate risk maintained by us as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 (dollars in millions).


20212022202320242025ThereafterTotalFair Value
Debt:
Fixed-Rate$1,000 $3,000 $1,500 $1,100 $4,500 $62,258 $73,358 $81,267 
Average Interest Rate4.00 %4.46 %6.92 %4.50 %4.91 %5.11 %5.08 %
Variable Rate$208 $277 $436 $1,165 $5,320 $3,575 $10,981 $10,956 
Average Interest Rate1.50 %1.60 %2.09 %2.83 %3.23 %3.99 %3.31 %
 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Thereafter Total Fair Value
Debt:               
Fixed-Rate$—
 $2,000
 $3,250
 $3,500
 $2,200
 $47,059
 $58,009
 $62,657
Average Interest Rate—% 6.75% 8.44% 4.19% 4.32% 5.64% 5.70%  
                
Variable Rate$49
 $197
 $296
 $1,716
 $2,928
 $3,582
 $8,768
 $8,788
Average Interest Rate3.13% 3.58% 3.77% 4.07% 4.07% 4.68% 4.29%  
                
Interest Rate Instruments:              
Variable to Fixed-Rate$850
 $—
 $—
 $—
 $—
 $—
 $850
 $1
Average Pay Rate3.84% —% —% —% —% —% 3.84%  
Average Receive Rate3.68% —% —% —% —% —% 3.68%  


As of September 30, 2017, we had $850 million in notional amounts of interest rate derivative instruments outstanding. The notional amounts of interest rate derivative instruments do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, thus, are not a measure of our exposure to credit loss. The amounts exchanged are determined by reference to the notional amount and the other terms of the contracts.

The estimated fair value of the interest rate derivative instruments is determined using a present value calculation based on an implied forward LIBOR curve (adjusted for Charter Operating’s and counterparties’ credit risk). Interest rates on variable-rate debt are estimated using the average implied forward LIBOR for the year of maturity based on the yield curve in effect at September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 including applicable bank spread.


Item 4.Controls and Procedures.


As of the end of the period covered by this report, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our design and operation of disclosure controls and procedures with respect to the information generated for use in this quarterly report. The evaluation was based upon reports and certifications provided by a number of executives. Based on, and as of the date of that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurances that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.


In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based upon the evaluation, we believe that our controls provide such reasonable assurances.


On May 18, 2016, we completed the Transactions and as a result, we have incorporated internal controls over significant processes specific to the Transactions and to activities post-Transactions that we believe to be appropriate and necessary in consideration of the related integration, including controls associated with the Transactions for the valuations of certain Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House assets and liabilities assumed, as well as adoption of common financial reporting and internal control practices for the combined company. In January 2017, we consolidated our separate human resource platforms into one platform which resulted in significant changes to the nature and type of certain internal controls for the most recent fiscal quarter. As we further integrate Legacy TWC and Legacy Bright House, we will continue to validate the effectiveness and integration of internal controls.

Except as described above in the preceding paragraph, duringDuring the quarter ended September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.



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52



PART IIII. OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1.Legal Proceedings.


Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 includes “Legal Proceedings” under Item 3 of Part I. Other than as described inSee Note 1520 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements contained in “Item 1. Financial Statements,” there have been no material changes from the legal proceedings described in our Form 10-K.Statements” for Legal Proceedings.


Item 1A.Risk Factors.


Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20162020 includes "Risk Factors" under Item 1A of Part I. There have been no material changes from the updated risk factors described in our Form 10-K.


Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.


(C)Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer


The following table presents Charter’s purchases of equity securities completed during the thirdfirst quarter of 20172021 (dollars in millions, except per share amounts):


Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)
Average Price Paid per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2)
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2)
January 1 - 31, 20211,907,537$635.231,718,845$1,133
February 1 - 28, 20211,514,273$613.721,191,522$287
March 1 - 31, 20212,728,886$624.332,645,951$1,231

(1)Includes 188,692, 322,751 and 82,935 shares withheld from employees for the payment of taxes and exercise costs upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of other equity awards for the months of January, February and March 2021, respectively.
(2)During the three months ended March 31, 2021, Charter purchased approximately 5.6 million shares of its Class A common stock for approximately $3.5 billion, which includes 0.8 million Charter class A common shares purchased from Liberty Broadband pursuant to the LBB Letter Agreement at an average price per unit of $621.16, or $518 million. Charter Holdings purchased 0.8 million Charter Holdings common units from A/N at an average price per unit of $639.27, or $507 million, during the three months ended March 31, 2021. As of March 31, 2021, Charter had remaining board authority to purchase an additional $1.2 billion of Charter’s Class A common stock and/or Charter Holdings common units. In addition to open market purchases including pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 plans adopted from time to time, Charter may also buy shares of Charter Class A common stock, from time to time, pursuant to private transactions outside of its Rule 10b5-1 plan and any such repurchases may also trigger the repurchases from A/N pursuant to and to the extent provided in the A/N Letter Agreement or Liberty pursuant to the LBB Letter Agreement.

Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)
Average Price Paid per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2)
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2)
July 1 - 31, 20172,821,905$340.252,809,011$2,897
August 1 - 31, 20172,452,094$391.572,441,604$6,951
September 1 - 30, 20174,281,675$374.824,271,343$5,189

(1)
Includes 12,894, 10,490 and 10,332 shares withheld from employees for the payment of taxes and exercise costs upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of other equity awards for the months of July, August and September 2017, respectively.
(2)
During the three months ended September 30, 2017, Charter purchased approximately 9.5 million shares of its Class A common stock for approximately $3.5 billion. As of September 30, 2017, Charter had remaining board authority to purchase an additional $5.2 billion of Charter’s Class A common stock without taking into account shares or units that may be purchased from A/N. In December 2016, Charter and A/N entered into the Letter Agreement that requires A/N to sell to Charter or to Charter Holdings, on a monthly basis, a number of shares of Charter Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units that represents a pro rata participation by A/N and its affiliates in any repurchases of shares of Charter Class A common stock from persons other than A/N effected by Charter during the immediately preceding calendar month, at a purchase price equal to the average price paid by Charter for the shares repurchased from persons other than A/N during such immediately preceding calendar month. A/N and Charter both have the right to terminate or suspend the pro rata repurchase arrangement on a prospective basis once Charter or Charter Holdings have repurchased shares of Class A common stock or Charter Holdings common units from A/N and its affiliates for an aggregate purchase price of $537 million which threshold has been reached. Charter Holdings purchased from A/N 1.4 million Charter Holdings common units at an average price per unit of $355.83, or $493 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017. In addition to open market purchases including pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 plans adopted from time to time, Charter may also buy shares of Charter Class A common stock, from time to time, pursuant to private transactions outside of its Rule 10b5-1 plan and any such repurchases would also trigger the repurchases from A/N pursuant to and to the extent provided in the Letter Agreement.

Item 6.Exhibits.


See Exhibit Index.



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53



SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Charter Communications, Inc. has duly caused this quarterly report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
Registrant
By:/s/ Kevin D. Howard
Kevin D. Howard
Senior Vice President - Finance, Controller and
Date: October 26, 2017Chief Accounting Officer



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Exhibit Index
ExhibitDescription
By:/s/ Kevin D. Howard
10.1Kevin D. Howard
Date: April 30, 2021Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller


S-1


Exhibit Index
ExhibitDescription
10.1
SixthLetter Agreement, dated as of February 23, 2021, between Charter Communications, Inc. and Liberty Broadband Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on February 24, 2021).
10.2
Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 6, 2017,March 4, 2021, among Charter Communications Operating, LLC, Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., as issuers, CCO Holdings, LLC, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the current reportCurrent Report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on July 12, 2017 (File No. 001-33664))March 4, 2021).
10.210.3
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 6, 2017, relating to the 3.750%Form of 3.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2028, among Charter Communications Operating, LLC, Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., the guarantors party thereto and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several Purchasers (as defined therein) (incorporated by reference to2041 (included in Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on July 12, 2017 (File No. 001-33664))10.2).
10.310.4
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 6, 2017, relating to the 5.375%Form of 3.900% Senior Secured Notes due 2047, among Charter Communications Operating, LLC, Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., the guarantors party thereto and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several Purchasers (as defined therein) (incorporated by reference to2052 (included in Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on July 12, 2017 (File No. 001-33664))10.2).
10.410.5
FourthSixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 8, 2017,April 22, 2021, among CCO Holdings, LLC, CCO Holdings Capital Corp. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14.2 to the current reportCurrent Report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on August 14, 2017 (File No. 001-33664))April 27, 2021).
10.510.6
Form of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2033 (included in Exhibit 10.5).
10.7
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 8, 2017,April 22, 2021, relating to the 5.000%4.500% Senior Notes due 2028,2033, among CCO Holdings, LLC, CCO Holdings Capital Corp. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated,Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as representative of the several Purchasers (as defined therein) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current reportCurrent Report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on August 14, 2017 (File No. 001-33664))April 27, 2021).
10.631.1
Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 18, 2017, among Charter Communications Operating, LLC, Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., the guarantors party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee and collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the current report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on September 21, 2017 (File No. 001-33664)).
10.7
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 18, 2017, relating to the 4.200% Senior Secured Notes due 2028, among Charter Communications Operating, LLC, Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., the guarantors party thereto and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representatives of the several Purchasers (as defined therein) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on September 21, 2017 (File No. 001-33664)).
10.8
Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 18, 2017, relating to the 5.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2047, among Charter Communications Operating, LLC, Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., the guarantors party thereto and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representatives of the several Purchasers (as defined therein) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K filed by Charter Communications, Inc. on September 21, 2017 (File No. 001-33664)).
31.1*
Certificate of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under the under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
31.2*31.2
Certificate of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
32.1*32.1
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Chief Executive Officer).
32.2*32.2
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Chief Financial Officer).
101**101
The following financial statementsinformation from Charter Communications, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2017,April 30, 2021, formatted in XBRL (eXtensibleiXBRL (inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language): includes: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income;Changes in Shareholders' Equity; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
104Cover Page, formatted in iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101.


_____________
*Filed herewith.
**This exhibit will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78r) or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such exhibit will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference


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into any filing under the Securities Act or Securities Exchange Act, except to the extent that the company specifically incorporates it by reference.


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