Research

The Lifeline National Eligibility Verifier (NV) data from Q4 2021 is now available on the Lifeline Program Data webpage. During the fourth quarter of 2021, the NV received 4,379,229 applications. Of the applications received, 49% were qualified automatically, and 7% were qualified through manual documentation review. Of the applications submitted, 1,927,028 applications were determined to be “Not Qualified” because they did not meet the program criteria and were not resolved by the applicant within 45 days. For more program data, including participation rates and disbursements, visit

There has always been a valuation gap between public cable and private communication operators that offer internet, cable and phone services. In this report, we attempt to quantify the valuation gap and the factors driving it, and why it’s important to rural operators. We also weigh in on where we think valuations are headed. Key findings include:

Omdia's 5G Consumer Broadband Pricing Tracker for Q4 of 2021 projects 1.3 billion 5G connections by the end of 2022. The company reports that 303 million 5G connections were added worldwide during 2021, reaching a total of 521 million.

The American Library Association released its new report "Keeping Communities Connected: Library Broadband Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Key takeaways include:

Internet connectivity became less affordable around the world in 2021, according to the latest statistical analysis by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI).

Fast satellite internet is already a huge boon to rural communities that might otherwise be too remote for fixed broadband service.

This report summarizes information about Internet access connections in the United States as of June 30, 2019 as collected by Federal Communications Commission Form 477. For purposes of this report, Internet access connections are those in service, over 200 kilobits per second (kbps) in at least one direction, and reported to the FCC through Form 477. Total Internet connections increased by about 4.7% between June 2018 and June 2019 to 449 million.

Gallup and the Knight Foundation conducted a survey of US adults regarding media and democracy. Major findings include:

This paper aims to: 1) outline why the Federal Communications Commission is the appropriate authority to resolve commercial spectrum disputes; 2) outline how the interagency process works and the role the National Telecommunications and Information Administration plays in resolving issues with government spectrum incumbents; and 3) demonstrate the importance of coordination by reviewing a few recent examples of government agencies circumventing this interagency process and the problems that has created.

This report probes the latest trends in the geography of tech over the past decade and through the pandemic. Among the findings are: