Publications

MEDIA Executive Summary Report

April 12, 2023

Authors: François Bar and Hernan Galperin

This report summarizes findings from the Measuring the Effectiveness of Digital Inclusion Approaches (MEDIA) project, which evaluated different programs and regulatory mechanisms to increase residential broadband adoption on a sustainable basis. The project set out to answer fundamental questions about these initiatives, with a focus on those launched after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,…

Read More »

Pivoting to On-Line Teaching in the Riverside Unified School District

March 9, 2023

Authors: Julie Leyba and Eduardo Gonzalez

This case study reviews how the RUSD and its S2H participating schools took steps to mitigate the digital divide. An evaluation of RUSD and its S2H schools suggests important recommendations on how digital inclusion programs can provide sustainable digital inclusivity for all students, parents, and teachers. The lessons RUSD learned during the pandemic offer benefits…

Read More »

The California Lifeline Program

March 9, 2023

Authors: François Bar, Eugene Jang, and Heonuk Ha

California’s Lifeline program is widely recognized as one of the most successful state Lifeline programs and therefore constitutes an important case for the MEDIA project to study. This report examines the history and characteristics of California Lifeline, including historical participation rates, the program’s targeting efficiency, and barriers to enrollment. It identifies the following three main…

Read More »

Have Affordable Broadband Plans Helped Connect Low-income Households? Evidence from California (2014-20)

February 16, 2023

Authors:

In recent years, state and federal regulators have imposed obligations on Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer affordable broadband plans as a condition for approving proposed mergers and acquisitions. The details vary in each case, but the obligation typically involves making available a basic, standalone broadband plan at a price significantly below market rates for a…

Read More »

Digital Inclusion in Public Housing: The case of HACLA

November 18, 2022

Authors: Hernan Galperin and Ke Huang-Isherwood

This report explores the digital equity efforts of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), one of the largest public housing organizations in the U.S. Based on expert interviews and a review of public documents from HACLA, this report reveals how barriers for connectivity faced by families that received housing assistance can be…

Read More »

Broadband Vouchers: Evaluating the Alabama Broadband Connectivity Program

November 8, 2022

Authors: Erezi Ogbo

The Alabama Broadband Connectivity (ABC) for Students program had high uptake among eligible families, particularly in areas with more digitally vulnerably people and areas with majority Democrat voters. The program presents evidence on three critical design elements for increasing uptake in broadband affordability programs: (1) Targeted outreach through trusted messengers; (2) Remove barriers to enrollment;…

Read More »

Estimating participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

October 27, 2022

Authors: Hernan Galperin

Since the launch of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in January 2022, there has been a great deal of interest in estimating how many eligible households are taking advantage of this new program that helps connect low-income Americans to broadband. This policy brief compares different methods for estimating ACP eligibility, which in turn affect estimates…

Read More »

A Roadmap for Affordable Broadband: Lessons from the Emergency Broadband Benefit [updated October 2022]

October 2, 2022

Authors: Hernan Galperin

The EBB program was created to mitigate the short-term impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable households, reducing the cost burden of broadband connectivity for recipients. As the program transitions into a longer-term subsidy, it is important to take stock of its impact and adjust course as needed. Overall, the findings of this study…

Read More »

Broadband Affordability and the Emergency Broadband Benefit in California

October 26, 2021

Authors:

This Policy Brief examines broadband affordability and awareness about low-cost options (including the Emergency Broadband Benefit) in California. The study is based on a survey of 2,143 households collected in August 2021. The survey was generously funded by the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF). Among the key study findings are: For the vast majority (nearly…

Read More »

“This gig is not for women”: Gender stereotyping in online hiring

May 5, 2021

Authors: Hernan Galperin

This study examines gender segregation in the context of the so-called gig economy. In particular, it explores the role that stereotypes about male and female occupations play in sorting men and women into different jobs in an online freelance marketplace. The findings suggest that gender stereotypes are particularly salient in online hiring because employers typically…

Read More »