v3.26.1
Employee Benefit Plans
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefit Plans:
In connection with the Merger, the Company assumed a non-contributory qualified defined benefit pension plan. Future benefit accruals for all eligible non-bargaining unit employees covered by the pension plan have ceased.

The minimum required employer contributions to the pension plan in 2026 total $20.6 million, consisting of $7.4 million for the 2025 plan year and $13.2 million for the 2026 plan year. In January 2026, the Company made a $4.5 million cash contribution to the pension plan attributable to the 2025 plan year and will contribute the remaining $2.9 million for the 2025 plan year in September 2026. On April 15, 2026, the Company made in cash its required quarterly employer contribution for the 2026 plan year of $4.4 million. The total amount of the 2026 employer contributions, and amount and timing of future contributions including any voluntary contributions, to the pension plan are dependent upon a myriad of factors, including future investment performance, changes in future discount rates, and changes in the demographics of the population participating in the plan.

The components of pension income were as follows:

(Millions)March 31,
2026
Benefits earned during the period (a)$0.5 
Interest cost on benefit obligation (b)7.1 
Expected return on plan assets (b)(8.5)
Net periodic pension income$(0.9)

(a)Included in cost of services and selling, general and administrative expense.
(b)Included in other income, net.

In connection with the Merger, the Company also assumed an employee savings plan under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, which covers substantially all salaried employees and certain bargaining unit employees of Windstream. Participating employees receive employer matching contributions up to a maximum of 4.0% of employee pre-tax contributions to the plan for employees contributing up to 5.0% of their eligible pre-tax compensation. The employer matching contribution is calculated and funded in cash to the plan each pay period with an annual true-up to be made as soon as administratively possible after the end of the year. Inclusive of the Company’s existing 401(k) defined contribution plan, expense attributable to the employer matching contribution under the plans, excluding amounts capitalized was $7.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, as compared to $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Expense related to the employee savings plans is included in cost of services and selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.