Broadband expansion cuts waiting times, especially for women, saving millions of hours

A study spanning 14 years linked greater broadband adoption to reduced waiting periods for goods and services, with a 10% increase in adoption trimming overall wait time by 1.19%. Women see the most pronounced benefit, enjoying an 11% decline that translates to 14.4 million hours saved nationwide each year. The time saved is valued at about $1.2 billion based on the mean hourly wage.

However, the data reveal that low-income residents do not experience comparable gains, likely due to cost and digital-skill barriers. The authors suggest that pairing infrastructure upgrades with digital-literacy and affordability programs could broaden the advantages. Their findings highlight a second digital divide: access alone does not guarantee equal time-saving outcomes.