Revenue Recognition

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

15.Revenue Recognition

Contract Balances

Our valuation and qualifying accounts as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:


	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021

	(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	40,642	$	32,861	$	43,233
Current period provision for expected credit losses		56,047		75,245		48,150
Write-offs charged against allowance		(61,805)		(67,464)		(58,522)
Balance at end of period	$	34,884	$	40,642	$	32,861

Contract liabilities arise when we bill our customers and receive consideration in advance of providing the service. Contract liabilities are recognized as revenue when the service has been provided to the customer. Contract liabilities are recorded in “Deferred revenue and other” and “Long-term deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table summarizes our contract liability balances:


	As of December 31,
	2023		2022

	(In thousands)
Contract liabilities	$	427,319	$	481,220

Our beginning of period contract liability recorded as customer contract revenue during 2023 was $478 million.

Performance Obligations

We apply a practical expedient and do not disclose the value of the remaining performance obligations for contracts that are less than one year in duration, which represent a substantial majority of our revenue. As such, the amount of revenue related to unsatisfied performance obligations is not necessarily indicative of our future revenue.

Contract Acquisition Costs


	For the Years Ended December 31,
	2023		2022		2021

	(In thousands)
Balance at beginning of period	$	230,146	$	298,112	$	338,893
Additions		71,931		86,740		116,922
Amortization expense		(126,392)		(154,706)		(157,703)
Balance at end of period	$	175,685	$	230,146	$	298,112