Publications

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;…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Since 2008, the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) has conducted a statewide survey to assess California’s progress towards closing the divide in broadband connectivity across the state. Over the years, the results have shown a steady increase in broadband adoption, though the gains have been uneven across regions and groups. With the onset of the COVID-19…

The COVID-10 pandemic has dramatically changed transit patterns and disrupted the delivery of basic public goods such as education and health. At the same time, it has also brought to the forefront new opportunities afforded by broadband-enabled applications in remote work, telehealth and remote learning. As California emerges from the pandemic, it is important to…

INTERNET ADOPTION AND THE “DIGITAL DIVIDE” IN CALIFORNIA The 2021 Statewide Survey on Broadband Adoption was conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC), led by Associate Professor Hernan Galperin, as part of a new research partnership between CETF and USC. The findings show that the share of California residents with Internet access…

This study examines how far is California from the goal of making 100Mbps broadband available to all as laid out by Governor Gavin Newsom in August 2020. The study also discusses the broadband proposals (AB-14 and SB-4) currently before the CA legislature. Among the key study findings are: The vast majority of Californians (94.2%) live…

This Connected Communities and Inclusive Growth (CCIG) report that examines the ability of K-12 students in California to engage in distance learning based on the availability of an internet-connected computer at home.   Among the key report findings are:   One in four K-12 households in California do not have a desktop or laptop computer…