Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Basis of Presentation

v3.24.0.1
Basis of Presentation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Basis of Presentation  
Basis of Presentation

(1) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Liberty Broadband Corporation and its controlled subsidiaries (collectively, "Liberty Broadband," the "Company," “us,” “we,” or “our” unless the context otherwise requires). Liberty Broadband Corporation is primarily comprised of GCI Holdings, LLC (“GCI Holdings” or “GCI”), a wholly owned subsidiary, and an equity method investment in Charter Communications, Inc. (“Charter”).

GCI Holdings provides a full range of data, wireless, video, voice, and managed services to residential customers, businesses, governmental entities, and educational and medical institutions primarily in Alaska under the GCI brand. Charter is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator. Over an advanced communications network, Charter offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet, TV, Mobile and Voice. 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 and production for the modern media landscape. Charter also distributes award-winning news coverage and sports programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks.

On December 18, 2020, GCI Liberty, Inc. (“GCI Liberty”), the parent company of GCI Holdings, was acquired by Liberty Broadband (the “Combination”).

Skyhook Holdings, Inc. (“Skyhook”) was a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband until its sale on May 2, 2022 for aggregate consideration of approximately $194 million, including amounts held in escrow of approximately $23 million that were released to Liberty Broadband on May 3, 2023. Liberty Broadband recognized a gain on the sale of $179 million, net of closing fees, in the second quarter of 2022, which is recorded in Gain (loss) on dispositions, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. Skyhook is included in Corporate and other through April 30, 2022 and is not presented as a discontinued operation as the sale did not represent a strategic shift that had a major effect on Liberty Broadband’s operations and financial results. Included in Revenue in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations is $6 million and $18 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to Skyhook. Included in Net earnings (loss) in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations are earnings of $4 million and less than $1 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to Skyhook.

Spin-Off Arrangements

During May 2014, the board of directors of Liberty Media Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Liberty”) authorized management to pursue a plan to spin-off to its stockholders common stock of a wholly owned subsidiary, Liberty Broadband, and to distribute subscription rights to acquire shares of Liberty Broadband’s common stock (the “Broadband Spin-Off”). In connection with the Broadband Spin-Off, Liberty and Liberty Broadband entered into certain agreements in order to govern certain of the ongoing relationships between the two companies and to provide for an orderly transition, including a services agreement and a facilities sharing agreement. Additionally, in connection with a prior transaction, GCI Liberty and Qurate Retail, Inc. (“Qurate Retail”) entered into a tax sharing agreement, which was assumed by Liberty Broadband as a result of the Combination. The tax sharing agreement provides for the allocation and indemnification of tax liabilities and benefits between Qurate Retail and Liberty Broadband and other agreements related to tax matters. Under the facilities sharing agreement, Liberty Broadband shares office space with Liberty and related amenities at Liberty’s corporate headquarters.

Pursuant to the services agreement, Liberty provides Liberty Broadband with general and administrative services including legal, tax, accounting, treasury, information technology, cybersecurity and investor relations support. Liberty Broadband reimburses Liberty for direct, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Liberty in providing these services which are negotiated semi-annually, as necessary. Pursuant to the services agreement, in connection with Liberty’s employment arrangement with Gregory B. Maffei, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, components of Mr. Maffei’s compensation are either paid directly to him or reimbursed to Liberty, based on allocations set forth in the services agreement.

For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the allocation percentage for Liberty Broadband was 23%, 33% and 37%, respectively, but is subject to adjustment on an annual basis and upon the occurrence of certain events.

Under these various agreements, amounts reimbursable to Liberty were approximately $7 million and $10 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Liberty Broadband had a tax sharing receivable with Qurate Retail of approximately $16 million and $7 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, included in Other assets.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) and represent the historical consolidated financial information of GCI Holdings and the Company’s interest in Charter, as well as certain other assets and liabilities. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.