CAREERS Sign In Communications Research Reports | CoBank - CoBank Site Communications Reports Reports from CoBank Knowledge Exchange focusing on the communications industry. Major Forces Will Shape the Communications Industry for Years to Come November 2021 Is Now the Time for Smaller Cable Operators to Enter the Wireless Market? August 2021 Federal Funds, Satellite Rivals Could Expedite Rural 5G Plans May 2021 Listen to the All Day Digital podcast All Day Digital is a CoBank Knowledge Exchange audio program. We connect with communications executives and thought leaders to get their perspective on what’s shaping the industry. All Day Digital Stay ahead of the game in your field. Subscribe today. Get CoBank's industry-leading Knowledge Exchange research reports delivered straight to your inbox as soon as they're released. Subscribe to Reports Have a comment or question about these reports? Contact CoBank's Knowledge Exchange team to ask questions, engage with analysts or receive additional information. Contact Us All Reports Major Forces Will Shape the Communications Industry for Years to Come The communications industry is expected to evolve significantly over the next several years as our work and lives grow increasingly digitized. Is Now the Time for Smaller Cable Operators to Enter the Wireless Market? New advancements in wireless technologies and the flood of newly available spectrum are enabling national wireless operators to enter the home broadband market with a fixed wireless access solution. Federal Funds, Satellite Rivals Could Expedite Rural 5G Plans The current state of 5G, when rural America can expect true high-speed 5G, and the opportunities that exist for rural operators as 5G is deployed. Broadband Operators Well Positioned to Capitalize on Accelerated Connected TV Growth With millions of bored consumers waiting out the pandemic at home this past year, 2020 was a tipping point for connected TV on-demand video streaming services, which drove an acceleration in cable cord cutting. RDOF Broadband Results Raise Concerns About Execution, Financial Risk The FCC’s recently-released results for the first round of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund left many questioning how the commission decided to allocate the funds. Funding Uncertainties Wreak Havoc for Rural Communications at the Worst Time Possible As the U.S. and China continue to battle over trade, technology, and intellectual property rights, those living in rural America are getting caught in the middle. Rural Broadband Valuations Remain High as Investors Move Down Market for New Opportunities The abrupt shift in 2020 to working from home and remote learning has significantly increased high-speed data subscriptions, representing a new catalyst for the broadband market. What the CBRS Spectrum Auction Results Mean for Rural Telecom The FCC recently concluded its CBRS spectrum auction and as expected, there was a wide range of winning bidders. New Networks and Spectrum to Fuel Tower Industry Growth T-Mobile’s efforts to expand rural coverage should be a tailwind for rural tower operators as it’s likely the company will use existing towers in remote parts of the country rather than building its own. As CBRS Auction Shapes Broadband Landscape Should Rural Operators Make a Bid? On July 23, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will start its highly anticipated CBRS auction for the licensed portion of the spectrum band. LEO Satellite Broadband Expectations Need to Come Back to Earth Satellite-based internet has been around for several years, but for the most part it has failed to gain traction due to slow data speeds and pricey rate plans with data caps. Rural Telecom Operators Take on Risks for Their Communities, But for How Long? Numerous rural operators are going above and beyond to keep their communities connected. However, in doing so, these operators are taking on increased cash flow risks. Network Sharing Could Be a Creative Way to Bridge the Digital Divide The primary challenge to bridging the digital divide is cost. In many rural markets there simply aren’t enough residents to justify the capital and operating expenditures needed to run a profitable network. COVID-19 Pushes Rural Internet Providers to Get Creative Broadband operators are seeing a 20-40% increase in data traffic where a shelter in place order has been issued. This is putting undue stress on rural communication networks. COVID-19 Highlights the "Digital Disadvantage" The coronavirus and the measures to prevent its spread are wreaking havoc for all Americans. But for those living in rural America, the disruption is even worse. Sprint – T-Mobile Merger Takeaways The verdict is in and a federal judge has cleared the way for Sprint and T-Mobile to merge. There are three main takeaways for rural America. Deal or No Deal: How the Sprint – T-Mobile Saga Will Impact Rural America As Sprint and T-Mobile forge ahead with their merger, a number of states are standing in the way citing anti-trust concerns, among other factors. The Year Ahead: Forces That Will Shape the US Rural Economy in 2020 The U.S. rural economy will continue to face headwinds in 2020 and is expected to underperform relative to the economy of urban America. Flush with Cash and Ready to Buy, Investors Take Aim at Fiber-Rich Operators Mergers & acquisition activity in the telecom market has driven an explosion in cloud computing, consumers’ insatiable demand for data, and new technologies. Pay-TV Operators: To Cut or Not to Cut? Consumer adoption of over-the-top video streaming services, coupled with rising programming costs, have created significant headwinds for traditional pay-TV operators. ABOUT COBANK CoBank is one of the largest private providers of credit to the U.S. rural economy. The bank delivers loans, leases and other financial services to agribusiness, rural infrastructure and Farm Credit customers in all 50 states. KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE Animal Protein Communications Dairy Grain & Farm Supply Power, Energy & Water Specialty Crops The Quarterly Report General Topics RESOURCES CoLink® Association Portal Fraud Prevention Leasing Portal LIBOR Transition Vendor Management CONTACT US CoBank National Office 6340 S. 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