v3.26.1
Revenue Recognition
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]  
Revenue Recognition
Note 4—Revenue Recognition

We categorize revenue from our operations within the products and services listed below based on the customers we serve, as follows: (i) revenue from Business customers is primarily reflected in the 'Strategic' and 'Legacy' categories, and (ii) revenue from Mass Markets customers is primarily reflected in 'Fiber Broadband', 'Other Broadband', and 'Voice and Other' categories.

Product and Service Categories

•Strategic: Includes existing and emerging products and services in which we are significantly investing, including offerings that leverage modernized infrastructure, higher-capacity technologies, and scalable or on-demand delivery models, such as dark fiber and conduit, IP, higher speed wavelength services, colocation facilities, certain Ethernet and VPN data network services, and digital services, such as Edge Fabric and Network-as-a-Service ("NaaS");

•Legacy: Includes our services that are generally provided over legacy platforms or lower-capacity configurations, such as traditional Ethernet, IP, and VPN data network services, delivered in locations or with technologies not currently suited for scalable or on-demand models, lower-speed wavelength services, voice and private line services, as well as managed and professional services and equipment sales;

•Fiber Broadband: Under which we provide high speed broadband services to residential and small business customers utilizing our fiber-based network infrastructure, representing the fiber-based business-to-customer products and services that remain following the Mass Markets Fiber-to-the-Home divestiture;

•Other Broadband: Under which we provide primarily lower speed broadband services to residential and small business customers utilizing our copper-based network infrastructure; and

•Voice and Other: Under which we derive revenues from (i) providing local and long-distance voice services, professional services, and other ancillary services, and (ii) federal broadband and state support programs.

Sales Channels

Under our Business customer revenue, we provide products and services under five sales channels to meet the needs of our enterprise and commercial customers. The five sales channels, organized by customer focus, include:

•Large Enterprise: Large enterprise customers and carriers in North America.

•Mid-Market Enterprise: Medium-sized enterprises in North America, served directly and through indirect     channel partners.

•Public Sector: U.S. Federal government, state and local governments, and research and education institutions.

•Wholesale: Other communication companies providing wireline, wireless, cable, voice, and data center services.

•International and Other: Multinational and global enterprise customers and carriers, as well as customers under our remaining content delivery network ("CDN") contracts.

By organizing our offerings through these customer-focused sales channels, we streamline operations and deliver targeted solutions.
Reconciliation of Total Revenue to Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The following tables provide total revenue by sales channel and product category. They also provide the amount of revenue that is not subject to Topic 606, but is instead governed by other accounting standards. The amounts in the tables below include revenue for the Mass Markets Fiber-to-the-Home business prior to its sale on February 2, 2026:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2026
Total Revenue
Adjustments for Non-ASC 606 Revenue (1)
Total revenue from Contracts with Customers
(Dollars in millions)
Sales Channel and Product Category
Large Enterprise
Strategic$535 (131)404 
Legacy243 — 243 
Total Large Enterprise Revenue778 (131)647 
Mid-Market Enterprise
Strategic239 (6)233 
Legacy200 (1)199 
Total Mid-Market Enterprise Revenue439 (7)432 
Public Sector
Strategic179 (26)153 
Legacy327 (1)326 
Total Public Sector Revenue506 (27)479 
Wholesale
Strategic259 (76)183 
Legacy389 (39)350 
Total Wholesale Revenue648 (115)533 
International and Other
Strategic34 (1)33 
Legacy39 — 39 
Total International and Other73 (1)72 
Business Revenue by Product Category
Strategic1,246 (240)1,006 
Legacy1,198 (41)1,157 
Total Business Revenue2,444 (281)2,163 
Mass Markets by Product Category
Fiber Broadband92 (17)75 
Other Broadband205 (2)203 
Voice and Other158 (1)157 
Total Mass Markets Revenue455 (20)435 
Total Revenue$2,899 (301)2,598 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Total Revenue
Adjustments for Non-ASC 606 Revenue (1)
Total revenue from Contracts with Customers
(Dollars in millions)
Sales Channel and Product Category
Large Enterprise
Strategic$463 (87)376 
Legacy306 — 306 
Total Large Enterprise Revenue769 (87)682 
Mid-Market Enterprise
Strategic232 (6)226 
Legacy255 (2)253 
Total Mid-Market Enterprise Revenue487 (8)479 
Public Sector
Strategic143 (24)119 
Legacy338 — 338 
Total Public Sector Revenue481 (24)457 
Wholesale
Strategic268 (75)193 
Legacy435 (40)395 
Total Wholesale Revenue703 (115)588 
International and Other
Strategic33 (1)32 
Legacy51 — 51 
Total International and Other84 (1)83 
Business Revenue by Product Category
Strategic1,139 (193)946 
Legacy1,385 (42)1,343 
Total Business Revenue2,524 (235)2,289 
Mass Markets by Product Category
Fiber Broadband209 (3)206 
Other Broadband257 (24)233 
Voice and Other192 (9)183 
Total Mass Markets Revenue658 (36)622 
Total Revenue$3,182 (271)2,911 
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(1)Includes regulatory revenue and lease revenue not within the scope of ASC 606.

Operating Lease Revenue

We lease various dark fiber and conduit, office facilities, colocation facilities, switching facilities, other network sites, and service equipment to third parties under operating leases. Lease and sublease income are included in operating revenue in the consolidated statements of operations.
The following table provides details of our gross operating lease revenue:

Three Months Ended March 31,
20262025
(Dollars in millions)
Operating lease revenue
$300 262
Percentage of Operating revenue
10 %8 %

Customer Receivables and Contract Balances

The following table provides balances of customer receivables, contract assets, and contract liabilities, net of amounts classified as held for sale:

March 31, 2026December 31, 2025
 (Dollars in millions)
Customer receivables, less allowance of $65 and $57(1)
$1,597 1,316 
Contract assets
31 33 
Contract liabilities(2)
699 647 
______________________________________________________________________
(1)    As of December 31, 2025, this amount excluded $13 million of customer receivables, net associated with the disposal group classified as held for sale.
(2)     As of December 31, 2025, this amount excluded $32 million of contract liabilities associated with the disposal group classified as held for sale.

Contract liabilities are included within Deferred revenue on our consolidated balance sheets and consist of consideration we have received from our customers or billed in advance of providing goods or services promised in the future. We defer recognizing this consideration as revenue until we have satisfied the related performance obligation to the customer. Contract liabilities include recurring services billed one month in advance and installation, and maintenance charges that are deferred and recognized over the actual or expected contract term, which typically ranges from one to five years depending on the service.

During the three months ended March 31, 2026, we recognized $255 million of revenue that was included in contract liabilities of $647 million as of January 1, 2026, including contract liabilities that were classified as held for sale. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, we recognized $294 million of revenue that was included in contract liabilities of $733 million as of January 1, 2025.

Performance Obligations

As of March 31, 2026, we expect to recognize $5.9 billion of revenue in the future related to performance obligations associated with existing customer contracts that are partially or wholly unsatisfied. As of March 31, 2026, the transaction price related to unsatisfied performance obligations that are expected to be recognized for the remainder of 2026, 2027, and thereafter was $2.2 billion, $1.9 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively.

These amounts exclude:

•the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts for which we recognize revenue in amounts for which we have the right to invoice for services performed (for example, uncommitted usage or non-recurring charges associated with professional or technical services to be completed); and

•contracts that are classified as leasing arrangements or government assistance that are not subject to ASC 606.
Contract Costs

Acquisition Costs

•Includes commission fees paid to employees as a result of obtaining contracts.

•Amortized acquisition costs are included in Selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations.

Fulfillment Costs

•Includes third-party and internal costs associated with the provision, installation, and activation of services to customers, including labor and materials consumed for these activities.

•Amortized fulfillment costs are included in Cost of services and products in our consolidated statements of operations.

We amortize deferred acquisition and fulfillment costs based on the transfer of services on a straight-line basis over the average contract life of approximately 50 months for Mass Markets customers and 38 months for Business customers.

The following tables provide changes in our contract acquisition costs and fulfillment costs:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2026

Acquisition Costs
Fulfillment Costs
(Dollars in millions)
Beginning of period balance(1)
$196 264 
Costs incurred34 52 
Amortization(31)(42)
Change in contract costs held for sale(2)— 
End of period balance
$197 274 
______________________________________________________________________
(1)    The beginning balance for the three months ended March 31, 2026 excluded $24 million and $21 million of acquisition costs and fulfillment costs, respectively, associated with the disposal group classified as held for sale.


Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
Acquisition CostsFulfillment Costs
(Dollars in millions)
Beginning of period balance
$203 222 
Costs incurred40 51 
Amortization(33)(37)
End of period balance
$210 236 

We include deferred acquisition and fulfillment costs in Other current assets, net and Other assets, net on our consolidated balance sheets. We assess deferred acquisition and fulfillment costs for impairment on a quarterly basis.