Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Changes in Company's Allowance for Accounts Receivable

The changes in the Company’s allowance for accounts receivable were as follows for the periods ended (in thousands):

	Year ended December 31,
	2019			2018			2017
Beginning balance	$	5,594		$	5,356		$	4,138
Provision for doubtful accounts	25,043			19,405			22,465
Write-offs and adjustments	(22,519		)	(19,167		)	(21,247		)
Balance at end of period	$	8,118		$	5,594		$	5,356

The following table summarizes the RIC receivables (in thousands):

	December 31, 2019			December 31, 2018
RIC receivables, gross	$	192,058		$	175,250
RIC Discount	(59,513		)	(34,163		)
RIC receivables, net	$	132,545		$	141,087
Classified on the consolidated balance sheets as:
Accounts and notes receivable, net	$	43,733		$	32,185
Long-term notes receivables and other assets, net	88,812			108,902
RIC receivables, net	$	132,545		$	141,087

Schedule Of Depreciation And Amortization Expense

The Company’s depreciation and amortization included in the consolidated statements of operations consisted of the following (in thousands):

	Year ended December 31,
	2019		2018		2017
Amortization of capitalized contract costs	$	437,285	$	398,174	$	—
Amortization of subscriber acquisition costs	—		—		206,153
Amortization of definite-lived intangibles	80,468		90,945		101,827
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	25,687		24,963		21,275
Total depreciation and amortization	$	543,440	$	514,082	$	329,255