| Summary of significant accounting policies | 2. Summary of significant accounting policies
Basis of presentation
The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 are unaudited. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial information has been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America (“U.S.”) for complete financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2017 contained in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2018. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of our results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and our financial position as of March 31, 2018. The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited consolidated financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for an entire year or any other future year or interim period.
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , which replaced the accounting standards for revenue recognition under FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition , with a single comprehensive five-step model, eliminating industry-specific accounting rules. The core principle is to recognize revenue upon the transfer of control of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received. The FASB amended several aspects of the guidance after the issuance of ASU 2014-09, and the new revenue recognition accounting standard, as amended, was codified within ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers . On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASC 606 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning on January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with ASC 605.
Adoption of ASC 606 using the modified retrospective method required us to record a cumulative effect adjustment, net of tax, to accumulated deficit and non-controlling interests of $3,257 and $69, respectively, on January 1, 2018. In addition, adoption of the standard resulted in the following changes to the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2018:
January 1, 2018
Adjustment for
January 1, 2018
Accounts receivable, net
$
$
)
$
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
$
$
$
Other assets
$
$
)
$
Deferred revenue, current
$
$
$
Deferred revenue, net of current portion
$
$
)
$
The below table summarizes the changes to our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2018 as a result of the adoption of ASC 606:
March 31, 2018
Adjustment for
March 31, 2018
Accounts receivable, net
$
$
)
$
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
$
$
)
$
Other assets
$
$
)
$
Deferred revenue, current
$
$
$
Deferred revenue, net of current portion
$
$
)
$
Non-controlling interests
$
$
$
The below table summarizes the changes to our condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as a result of the adoption of ASC 606:
March 31, 2018
Adjustment for
March 31, 2018
Revenue
$
$
$
Income tax expense
$
$
)
$
Non-controlling interests
$
)
$
$
The changes to the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 1, 2018 and March 31, 2018 and the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were primarily due to the following factors: (i) reclassification of unbilled receivables (contract assets) to a contra-liability account under ASC 606; and (ii) recognition of revenue related to our single performance obligation for our DAS contracts monthly over the contract term once the customer has the ability to access the DAS network and we commence maintenance on the DAS network under ASC 606 as compared to recognition of build-out fees for our DAS contracts monthly over the term of the estimated customer relationship period once the build-out is complete and minimum monthly access fees for our DAS contracts monthly over the term of the telecom operator agreement under ASC 605. The changes to the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2018 are reflected as non-cash changes within cash provided by operating activities in our condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting , which provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity applies modification accounting under ASC 718. According to the new standard, an entity would not apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions and classification of the modified award is the same as the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The standard will be applied prospectively to modifications that occur on or after the adoption date. We adopted ASU 2017-09 on January 1, 2018 and the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Principles of consolidation
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our majority owned subsidiaries. We consolidate our 70% ownership of Chicago Concourse Development Group, LLC and our 75% ownership of Boingo Holding Participacoes Ltda. in accordance with ASC 810, Consolidation . Other parties’ interests in consolidated entities are reported as non-controlling interests. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Segment and geographical information
We operate as one reportable segment; a service provider of wireless connectivity solutions across our managed and operated network and aggregated network for mobile devices such as laptops, smartphones, tablets and other wireless-enabled consumer devices. This single segment is consistent with the internal organization structure and the manner in which operations are reviewed and managed by our Chief Executive Officer, the chief operating decision maker.
All significant long-lived tangible assets are held in the United States of America. We do not disclose sales by geographic area because to do so would be impracticable.
The following is a summary of our revenue disaggregated by product offerings:
Three Months Ended
2018
2017(1)
Revenue:
DAS
$
$
Military
Wholesale—Wi-Fi
Retail
Advertising and other
Total revenue
$
$
(1)
As noted above, prior period amounts have not been adjusted upon adoption of ASC 606 under the modified retrospective method.
Restricted cash
Restricted cash consists of a letter of credit issued to one of our international venue partners. The letter of credit is collateralized by cash deposits. At March 31, 2018, we had $512 classified as short-term restricted cash as the letter of credit expires within the next year.
Revenue recognition
We generate revenue from several sources including: (i) DAS customers that are telecom operators under long-term contracts for access to our DAS at our managed and operated locations, (ii) military and retail customers under subscription plans for month-to-month network access that automatically renew, and military and retail single-use access from sales of hourly, daily or other single-use access plans, (iii) arrangements with wholesale Wi-Fi customers that provide software licensing, network access, and/or professional services fees, and (iv) display advertisements and sponsorships on our walled garden sign-in pages. Software licensed by our wholesale platform services customers can only be used during the term of the service arrangements and has no utility to them upon termination of the service arrangement.
Post-ASC 606 adoption
Revenues are recognized when a contract with a customer exists and control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services and the identified performance obligation has been satisfied. Contracts entered into at or near the same time with the same customer are combined and accounted for as a single contract if the contracts have a single commercial objective, the amount of consideration is dependent on the price or performance of the other contract, or the services promised in the contracts are a single performance obligation. Contract amendments are routine in the performance of our DAS, wholesale Wi-Fi, and advertising contracts. Contracts are often amended to account for changes in contract specifications or requirements or expand network access services. In most instances, our DAS and wholesale Wi-Fi contract amendments are for additional goods or services that are distinct, and the contract price increases by an amount that reflects the standalone selling price of the additional goods or services; therefore, such contract amendments are accounted for as separate contracts. Contract amendments for our advertising contracts are also generally for additional goods or services that are distinct; however, the contract price does not increase by an amount that reflects the standalone selling price of the additional goods or services. Advertising contract amendments are therefore generally accounted for as contract modifications under the prospective method. Contract amendments to transaction prices with no change in remaining services are accounted for as contract modifications under the cumulative catch-up method.
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account in ASC 606. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and is recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied, which typically occurs when the services are rendered. Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately versus together may require significant judgment. Our contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, we allocate revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price. We generally determine standalone selling prices based on the prices charged to customers. Judgment may be used to determine the standalone selling prices if for items that are not sold separately, including services provided at no additional charge. Most of our performance obligations are satisfied over time as services are provided. Periodically, we install and sell DAS and Wi-Fi networks to customers where we do not have service contracts or remaining obligations beyond the installation of those networks and we recognize build-out fees for such projects as revenue when the installation work is completed, and the network has been accepted by the customer. We generally recognize revenue on a gross basis as we are primarily responsible for fulfilling the promises to provide the specified goods or services, we are responsible for paying all costs related to the goods or services before they have been transferred to the customer, and we have discretion in establishing prices for the specified goods or services. Revenue is presented net of any sales and value added taxes.
Payment terms vary on a contract-by-contract basis, although terms generally include a requirement of payment within 30 to 60 days for non-recurring payments and the first day of the monthly or quarterly billing cycle for recurring payments. We apply a practical expedient for purposes of determining whether a significant financing component may exist for our contracts if, at contract inception, we expect that the period between when we transfer the promised good or service to the customer and when the customer pays for that good or service will be one year or less. In instances where the customer pays for a good or service one year or more in advance of the period when we transfer the promised good or service to the customer, we have determined our contracts generally do not include a significant financing component. The primary purpose of our invoicing terms is not to receive financing from our customers or to provide customers with financing but rather to maximize our profitability on the customer contract. Specifically, inclusion of non-refundable upfront fees in our long-term customer contracts increases the likelihood that the customer will be committed through the end of the contractual term and ensures recoverability of the capital outlay that we incur in expectation of the customer fulfilling its contractual obligations. We may also provide service credits to our DAS, military and retail, and wholesale Wi-Fi customers if we fail to meet contractual monthly system uptime requirements and we account for the variable consideration related to these service credits using the most likely amount method. We have historically never issued any significant service credits, and accordingly, our most likely amount is that we will issue zero service credits to our DAS, military and retail, and wholesale Wi-Fi customers.
For contracts that include variable consideration, we estimate the amount of consideration at contract inception under the expected value method or the most likely amount method and include the amount of variable consideration that is not considered to be constrained. Significant judgment is used in constraining estimates of variable consideration. We update our estimates at the end of each reporting period as additional information becomes available.
Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. We record unbilled receivables (contract assets) when revenue is recognized prior to invoicing, deferred revenue (contract liabilities) when revenue is recognized after invoicing, and receivables when we have an unconditional right to consideration to invoice and receive payment in the future. We present our DAS and wholesale Wi-Fi contracts in our consolidated balance sheet as either a contract asset or a contract liability with any unconditional rights to consideration presented separately as a receivable. Our other customer contracts generally do not have any significant contract asset or contract liability balances. Generally, a significant portion of the billing for our DAS contracts occurs prior to revenue recognition, resulting in our DAS contracts being presented as contract liabilities. In contrast, our wholesale Wi-Fi contracts that contain recurring fees with annual escalations are generally presented as contract assets as revenue is recognized prior to invoicing.
We recognize an asset for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if we expect the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year. We have determined that certain sales incentive programs meet the requirements to be capitalized. Total capitalized costs to obtain a contract were immaterial during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and non-current other assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We apply a practical expedient to expense costs as incurred for costs to obtain a contract with a customer when the amortization period would have been one year or less, the most significant of which relates to sales commissions related to obtaining our advertising customer contracts. Contract costs are evaluated for impairment in accordance with ASC 310, Receivables .
DAS
We enter into long-term contracts with telecom operators at our managed and operated locations. The initial term of our contracts with telecom operators generally range from five to twenty years and the agreements generally contain renewal options. Some of our contracts provide termination for convenience clauses that may or may not include substantive termination penalties. We apply judgment in determining the contract term, the period during which we have present and enforceable rights and obligation. Our DAS customer contracts generally contain a single performance obligation — provide non-exclusive access to our DAS or small cell networks to provide telecom operators’ customers with access to the licensed wireless spectrum, together with providing telecom operators with construction, installation, optimization/engineering, maintenance services and agreed-upon storage space for the telecom operators’ transmission equipment, each related to providing such licensed wireless spectrum to the telecom operators. The performance obligation is considered a series of distinct services as the performance obligation is satisfied over time and the same time-based input method would be used to measure our progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation to transfer each distinct service in the series to the customer. Our contract fee structure generally includes a non-refundable upfront fee and we evaluated whether customer options to renew services give rise to a material right that should be accounted for as a separate performance obligation because of those non-refundable upfront fees. We believe that a material right generally does not exist for our DAS customer contracts that contain renewal options considering the telecom operators’ decision to renew is highly dependent upon our ability to maintain our exclusivity as the DAS service provider at the venue location and our limited operating history with venue and customer renewals. The telecom operators will make the decision to incur the capital improvement costs at the venue location irrespective of our remaining exclusivity period with the venue as the telecom operators expect that the assets will continue to be serviced regardless of whether we will remain the exclusive DAS service provider at the venue. Our contracts also provide our DAS customers with the option to purchase additional future services such as upgrades or enhancements. This option is not considered to provide the customer with a material right that should be accounted for as a separate performance obligation as the cost of the additional future services will depend entirely on the market rate of such services at the time such services are requested and we are not automatically obligated to stand ready to deliver these additional goods or services as the customer may reject our proposal.
Our contract fee structure may include varying components of an upfront build-out fee and recurring access, maintenance, and other fees. The upfront build-out fee is generally structured as a firm-fixed price or cost-plus arrangement and becomes payable as certain contract and/or construction milestones are achieved. Our DAS and small-cell networks are neutral-host networks that can accommodate multiple telecom operators. Some of our DAS customer contracts provide for credits that may be issued to existing telecom operators for additional telecom operators subsequently joining the DAS network. The credits are generally based upon a fixed dollar amount per additional telecom operator, a fixed percentage amount of the original build-out fee paid by the telecom operator per additional telecom operator, or a proportionate share considering the actual costs incurred by all telecom operators to construct the DAS network split among the relevant number of telecom operators. In most cases, there is significant uncertainty on whether additional telecom operator contracts will be executed at inception of the contract with the existing telecom operator. We believe that the upfront build-out fee is fixed consideration once the build-out is complete and any subsequent credits that may be issued would be accounted for in a manner similar to a contract modification under the prospective method because (i) the execution of customer contracts with additional telecom carriers is at our sole election and (ii) we would not execute agreements with additional telecom carriers if it would not increase our revenues and gross profits at the venue level. Further, the credits issued to the existing telecom operator changes the transaction price on a go-forward basis, which corresponds with the decline in service levels for the existing telecom operator once the neutral-host DAS network can be accessed by the additional telecom operator. The recurring access, maintenance, and other fees generally escalate on an annual basis. The recurring fees are variable consideration until the contract term and annual escalation dates are fixed. We estimate the variable consideration for our recurring fees using the most likely amount method based on the expected commencement date for the services. We evaluate our estimates of variable consideration each period and record a cumulative catch-up adjustment in the period in which changes occur for the amount allocated to satisfied performance obligations.
We generally recognize revenue related to our single performance obligation for our DAS customer contract monthly over the contract term once the customer has the ability to access the DAS network and we commence maintenance on the DAS network.
Military and retail
Military and retail customers must review and agree to abide by our standard “Customer Agreement (With Acceptable Use Policy) and End User License Agreement” before they are able to sign-up for our subscription or single-use Wi-Fi network or TV access services. Our military and retail customer contracts generally contain a single performance obligation — provide non-exclusive access to Wi-Fi hotspots and/or internet protocol television (“IPTV”) networks, together with performance standard maintenance, customer support, and the Wi-Finder app to facilitate seamless connection to the Company’s Wi-Fi hotspots and/or IPTV networks. The performance obligation is considered a series of distinct services as the performance obligation is satisfied over time and the same time-based input method would be used to measure our progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation to transfer each distinct service in the series to the customer. Our contracts also provide our military and retail subscription customers with the option to renew the agreement when the subscription term is over. We do not consider this option to provide the customer with a material right that should be accounted for as a separate performance obligation because the customer would not receive a discount if they decided to renew and the option to renew is cancellable within 5 days’ notice prior to the end of the then current term by either party.
The contract transaction price is determined based on the subscription or single-use plan selected by the customer. Our military and retail service plans are for fixed price services with the price for each plan stated on our website. From time to time, we offer promotional discounts that result in an immediate reduction in the price paid by the customer. Subscription fees from military and retail customers are paid monthly in advance. We provide refunds for our military and retail services on a case-by-case basis. Refunds and credit card chargeback amounts are not significant and are recorded as contra-revenue in the period the refunds are made, or chargebacks are received.
Subscription fee revenue is recognized ratably over the subscription period. Revenue generated from military and retail single-use access is recognized when access is provided, and the performance obligation is satisfied.
Wholesale Wi-Fi
We enter into long-term contracts with enterprise customers such as telecom operators, cable companies, technology companies, and enterprise software/services companies, that pay us usage-based Wi-Fi network access and software licensing fees to allow their customers’ access to our footprint worldwide. We also enter into long-term contracts with financial institutions and other enterprise customers who provide access to our Wi-Fi footprint as a value-added service for their customers. The initial term of our contracts with wholesale Wi-Fi customers generally range from one to three years and the agreements generally contain renewal options. Some of our contracts provide termination for convenience clauses that may or may not include substantive termination penalties. We apply judgment in determining the contract term, the period during which we have present and enforceable rights and obligation. Our wholesale Wi-Fi customer contracts generally contain a single performance obligation — provide non-exclusive rights to access our Wi-Fi networks to provide wholesale Wi-Fi customers’ end customers with access to the high-speed broadband network that may be bundled together with integration services, support services, and/or performance of standard maintenance. The performance obligation is considered a series of distinct services as the performance obligation is satisfied over time and the same time-based input method or usage-based output method would be used to measure our progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation to transfer each distinct service in the series to the customer. Our contracts may also provide our enterprise customers with the option to renew the agreement. This option is not considered to provide the customer with a material right that should be accounted for as a separate performance obligation because the customer would not receive a discount if they decided to renew and the option to renew is generally cancellable by either party subject to the notice of non-renewal requirements specified in the contract. Our contracts may also provide our wholesale Wi-Fi customers with the option to purchase additional future services. We do not consider this option to provide the customer with a material right that should be accounted for as a separate performance obligation since the cost of the additional future services are generally at market rates for such services and we are not automatically obligated to stand ready to deliver these additional goods or services because the customer may reject our proposal.
Our contract fee structure may include varying components of a minimum fee and usage-based fees. Minimum fees represent fixed price consideration while usage-based fees represent variable consideration. With respect to variable consideration, our commitment to our wholesale Wi-Fi customers consists of providing continuous access to the network. It is therefore a single performance obligation to stand ready to perform and we will allocate the variable fees charged for usage when we have the contractual right to bill. The variable component of revenue will be recognized based on the actual usage during the period.
Wholesale Wi-Fi revenue is recognized as they are earned over the relevant contract term with variable consideration recognized when we have the contractual right to bill.
Advertising
We generally enter into short-term cancellable insertion orders with our advertising customers for advertising campaigns that are served at our managed and operated locations and other locations where we solely provide authorized access to a partner’s Wi-Fi network through sponsored and promotional programs. Our sponsorship advertising arrangements are generally priced under a cost per engagement structure, which is a set price per click or engagement, or a cost per install structure for third party application downloads. Our display advertising arrangements are priced based on cost per thousand impressions. Insertion orders may also include bonus items. Our advertising customer contracts may contain multiple performance obligations with each distinct service. These distinct services may include an advertisement video or banner impressions in the contract bundled with the requirement to provide network, space on the website, and integration of customer advertisement onto the website, and each is generally considered to be its own performance obligation. The performance obligations are considered a series of distinct services as the performance obligations are satisfied over time and the same action-based output method would be used to measure our progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation to transfer each distinct service in the series to the customer.
The contract transaction price is comprised of variable consideration based on the stated rates applied against the number of units delivered inclusive of the bonus units subject to the maximums provided for in the insertion order. It is customary for us to provide additional units over and above the amounts contractually required; however, there are a number of factors that can also negatively impact our ability to deliver the units required by the customer such as service outages at the venue resulting from power or circuit failures and customer cancellation of the remaining undelivered units under the insertion order due to campaign performance or budgetary constraints. Typically, the advertising campaign periods are short in duration. We will therefore use the contractual rates per the insertion orders and actual units delivered to determine the transaction price each period end. The transaction price will be allocated to each performance obligation based on the standalone selling price of each performance obligation.
Advertising revenue is recognized ratably over the service period based on actual units delivered subject to the maximums provided for in the insertion order.
Pre-ASC 606 adoption
We recognize revenue when an arrangement exists, services have been rendered, fees are fixed or determinable, no significant obligations remain related to the earned fees and collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured. Revenue is presented net of any sales and value added taxes.
Revenue generated from access to our DAS networks consists of build-out fees and recurring access fees under certain long-term contracts with telecom operators. Build-out fees paid upfront are generally deferred and recognized ratably over the term of the estimated customer relationship period, once the build-out is complete. Periodically, we install and sell Wi-Fi and DAS networks to customers where we do not have service contracts or remaining obligations beyond the installation of those networks and we recognize build-out fees for such projects as revenue when the installation work is completed, and the network has been accepted by the customer. Minimum monthly access fees for usage of the DAS networks are non-cancellable and generally escalate on an annual basis. These minimum monthly access fees are recognized ratably over the term of the telecom operator agreement. The initial term of our contracts with telecom operators generally range from five to twenty years and the agreements generally contain renewal clauses. Revenue from DAS network access fees in excess of the monthly minimums is recognized when earned.
Subscription fees from military and retail customers are paid monthly in advance and revenue is deferred for the portions of monthly recurring subscription fees collected in advance. We provide refunds for our military and retail services on a case-by-case basis. These amounts are not significant and are recorded as contra-revenue in the period the refunds are made. Subscription fee revenue is recognized ratably over the subscription period. Revenue generated from military and retail single-use access is recognized when access is provided.
Services provided to wholesale Wi-Fi partners generally contain several elements including: (i) a term license to use our software to access our Wi-Fi network, (ii) access fees for Wi-Fi network usage, and/or (iii) professional services for software integration and customization and to maintain the Wi-Fi service |
