Welfare Stigma and the Take-Up of Consumer Broadband Subsidies

Limited participation in broadband subsidy programs is a growing concern among policymakers and a puzzle for researchers. This study examines participation in Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) across US counties. We propose that local attitudes toward welfare represent an important factor in the take-up of broadband subsidies. To test this hypothesis, we model program participation on multiple covariates using two different measurements that approximate local attitudes toward welfare. The findings indicate that program participation is inversely related to anti-welfare attitudes at the county level. We discuss theoretical contributions and implications for program design.