Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Property and Equipment

v3.19.3.a.u2
Property and Equipment
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]  
Property and Equipment
Property and Equipment

Property and equipment, including satellites, are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Equipment under capital leases is stated at the present value of minimum lease payments. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful life of the asset:
Satellite system
15 years
Terrestrial repeater network
5 - 15 years
Broadcast studio equipment
3 - 15 years
Capitalized software and hardware
2 - 7 years
Satellite telemetry, tracking and control facilities
3 - 15 years
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other
2 - 7 years
Building
20 or 30 years
Leasehold improvements
Lesser of useful life or remaining lease term


We review long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by
a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds the estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in an amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the asset. We did not record any impairments during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Property and equipment, net, consists of the following:
 
December 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Satellite system
$
1,587

 
$
1,587

Terrestrial repeater network
100

 
98

Leasehold improvements
105

 
58

Broadcast studio equipment
137

 
111

Capitalized software and hardware
1,086

 
824

Satellite telemetry, tracking and control facilities
87

 
76

Furniture, fixtures, equipment and other
89

 
97

Land
38

 
38

Building
63

 
63

Construction in progress
505

 
412

Total property and equipment
3,797

 
3,364

Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(2,171
)
 
(1,851
)
Property and equipment, net
$
1,626

 
$
1,513


Construction in progress consists of the following:
 
December 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Satellite system
$
371

 
$
296

Terrestrial repeater network
7

 
5

Capitalized software and hardware
107

 
77

Other
20

 
34

Construction in progress
$
505

 
$
412


Depreciation and amortization expense on property and equipment was $327, $278 and $261 and for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  We retired property and equipment of $9, $35 and $79 during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
We capitalize a portion of the interest on funds borrowed to finance the construction and launch of our satellites. Capitalized interest is recorded as part of the asset’s cost and depreciated over the satellite’s useful life. Capitalized interest costs were $17, $12 and $5 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which related to the construction of our SXM-7 and SXM-8 satellites. We also capitalize a portion of share-based compensation related to employee time for capitalized software projects. Capitalized share-based compensation costs were $13 for the year ended December 31, 2019. We did not capitalize any share-based compensation for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Satellites
As of December 31, 2019, we owned a fleet of five satellites.  The chart below provides certain information on our satellites as of December 31, 2019:
Satellite Description
 
Year Delivered
 
Estimated End of
Depreciable Life
SIRIUS FM-5
 
2009
 
2024
SIRIUS FM-6
 
2013
 
2028
XM-3
 
2005
 
2020
XM-4
 
2006
 
2021
XM-5
 
2010
 
2025

Each satellite requires an FCC license and prior to the expiration of each license, we are required to apply for a renewal of the FCC satellite licenses.  The renewal and extension of our licenses is reasonably certain at minimal cost, which is expensed as incurred.
The following table outlines the years in which each of our satellite licenses expires:
FCC satellite licenses
 
Expiration year
SIRIUS FM-5
 
2025
SIRIUS FM-6
 
2022
XM-3
 
2021
XM-4
 
2022
XM-5
 
2026