As part of that spinoff, Windstream transferred copper-based network assets to Uniti, which Windstream leased back from Uniti to serve its 1.4 million residential and business customers across its 18-state footprint. Windstream was paying $54 million per month to Uniti for access to Uniti's network assets. The master lease with Uniti was set to expire in 2030, and had an annual rent of approximately $659 million. Windstream filed a complaint against Uniti on July 25 that sought to re-characterize its relationship with Uniti from a lease to a financing arrangement. For months, Windstream and Uniti couldn't come to an agreement on the terms of the master lease and were headed to a court date earlier this year before agreeing to new terms in early March.