The Poor Get Poorer and the Rich Get Fiber: Why Free/Low-Cost Internet Might Not Bridge the Digital Divide

Public policy holds that bridging the digital divide is a critical requirement for improving the life chances of socio-economically disadvantaged groups. Free or subsidized internet access from government and non-profits is a common approach, however, with the advent of Google Fiber, a new venture providing free/low-cost fast internet, the access landscape is changing. We will study the effects of Google Fiber in Kansas City, Missouri, one of the first cities to receive the service. We propose several hypotheses on the relationship between free/low-cost, fast internet service and improved educational outcomes. We plan to compare academic performance results from Kansas City Public Schools inside and outside of Google Fiberhoods. We hope to determine if access to internet services such as Google Fiber have an impact on K12 educational outcomes and what moderators may influence its effects.