Predicting Uptake Rates for the Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is one of several US federal and state government programs that seek to bridge the so-called “digital divide” through targeted consumer subsidies and support for infrastructure rollout. Though these subsidy programs aim to improve vital broadband and telecommunications access to low-income households, their uptake has varied across US states and counties. This fits the pattern of low participation rates in other means-tested broadband subsidy programs such as Lifeline and Linkup. The causes are many: lack of awareness, poor integration with other social welfare programs, and onerous documentation. Although the ACP was terminated in June 2024 after the US Congress failed to renew funding, there is a lot we can learn from its successes and challenges to improve future means-tested broadband subsidy programs in the US and other countries. To this end, the Information Policy Research Group at Penn State University is working on understanding the factors associated with ACP uptake rates at the county level.