Need for Speed: Broadband and Student Achievement

As broadband becomes more and more important for students to be successful, we need to know how differences in availability affect their achievement. How do some students’ achievements compare to their more well-off peers with fancy 1 gigabit fiber connections? Suppose we could randomly build out fiber-optic broadband to different parts within a neighborhood and then compare a student’s test scores before and after fiber became available to the students that didn’t get access. This would mimic a “natural experiment” with which we could assess the effect of fiber access on student achievement. As it turns out, the gradual build-out of fiber over the last decade has roughly mirrored this “natural experiment,” and subsequently serves as an informative opportunity for policymakers and researchers studying broadband. What happens to the achievement of students who live in areas where fiber is offered? It turns out that not only does internet access matter, but the speed of the connection does as well! Six years of exposure to fiber for students in grades 3-8 increases their standardized math and reading scores by about 2.3 and 1.1 percent of a standard deviation respectively. This research suggests that broadband is a key piece of modern education. Students benefit greatly from broadband access and in particular reliable, fast broadband. Policymakers should strive to equalize both availability and take-up of fiber-based broadband. Failure to do so could unduly restrict the educational outcomes with limited or no broadband access or those too poor to afford a subscription for broadband service. You can view the most current version of the research paper here.