Study Links Broadband Adoption to Lower 'Time Poverty'
The effect was strongest among women, suggesting that reliable internet access could help reduce everyday logistical burdens
WASHINGTON, August 31, 2026 - Higher community broadband adoption is associated with less time spent waiting for goods and services, a key measure of a term called “time poverty,” according to a soon-to-be-published study in the academic journal Telecommunications Policy.
Authors Mattia Caldarulo, Gregory Porumbescu, and Andrea Hetling integrated broadband data with 14 years of American Time Use Survey records and estimated that community‑level adoption eases time poverty by enabling more efficient online access to daily tasks.
And, according to the study, researchers found that people living in counties with higher broadband adoption spent significantly less time queuing for errands such as banking, shopping and accessing public services.
The effect was strongest among women, suggesting that reliable internet access could help reduce everyday logistical burdens rather than simply improve digital connectivity.
The study identifies three ways community-wide broadband adoption reduces time poverty. First, it encourages institutions and businesses to digitize services - such as online appointment booking and government portals - making access to goods and services more efficient.
Second, it gives residents tools to complete time-intensive tasks remotely, including telehealth, online shopping, and digital government services, while real-time updates help people avoid unnecessary waiting.
Finally, the researchers found a broader community benefit: As more people shift transactions online, demand for in-person services falls, shortening queues at offices, clinics, and stores even for residents who do not use broadband themselves.
The researchers found that broadband’s time-saving benefits were not evenly distributed. Women experienced larger reductions in waiting times than men, while low-income households stood to gain through improved access to jobs, government services and digital tools that reduce administrative burdens, according to the study.
