(Washington D.C. – May 9, 2024)
Twenty-three Million.
We’re nearing the end of the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP), which has helped 23 million Americans—5.5 million of whom are Black Americans—save about $75 each month on their internet bills.
- $75 per month
- $900 per year
- 23 Million families
— This equals a whopping $20 Billion saved by American families!
Twenty billion that went back into the economy!
Twenty billion more to purchase weekly groceries!
Twenty billion back to the farmers & retailers!
It’s important to remember that behind every number, there’s a story waiting to be told.
Meet Mckenzie, a single mother of two who works from home.
Thanks to the ACP, she’s been able to afford
reliable internet for her family, which
has helped her kids with their online
homework and allowed her to work
remotely without worrying about
connectivity issues!
If the ACP doesn’t get renewed, these families might lose the benefit that has made internet access more equal.
I had the privilege to talk to Stephen Benjamin, who leads the Office of Public Engagement for the White House. He emphasized how crucial digital infrastructure is for everyone and how this program has supported families across urban, suburban, and rural areas, making it bipartisan and inclusive.
The ACP has been incredibly diverse, reaching Americans from all walks of life. Surprisingly, more people have used this program than the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Next, please meet Jonathan, a veteran who struggled to make ends meet
after leaving the military. He was grateful for
the ACP, which helped him afford internet
access and stay connected with his loved
ones, just like how SNAP helped him put food
on the table!
It’s clear this program is vital. White House Leader Stephen Benjamin mentioned that it’s helped a lot of veterans, even more than what we might expect based on their population ratio.
This program reaches every state in the country, supporting President Biden’s goal of boosting the economy “from the middle out and from the bottom up”.
An intelligent and honest soul, please meet Maria,
a college student who relied on the ACP
to access online resources for her studies. She was
grateful for the program’s inclusivity, which
helped her feel seen and supported as
a first-generation American!
In a sense, this whole dynamic is a lot like our journey with emotional intelligence—which at its core is simply a measure of how well we connect with others.
There are four parts to Emotional Intelligence:
- understanding our own individual feelings,
- acting appropriately based on these feelings,
- empathizing with others who are involved,
- and then coordinating our interactions with them for the best, positive outcomes.
So in this light, just one of us having access to the pinnacle of this technology (and knowing how to use it) is like the first component of EI. But if we don’t use it to its capacity or potential, we still have room to grow. Thus, using it well is the second aspect of EI. Thirdly, if we sit back on our laurels unconcerned that others may or may not have this level of access, we are not operating in the empathetic component of EI. — Taking the time to inquire where our neighbors are, is indicative of the third component of emotional intelligence. Lastly, based on this information, if we then make efforts to ensure that they gain as much access as possible (hopefully on par with us) we are then thus operating in the fourth component, and are fully enacting all parts of Emotional Intelligence.
Grateful for his contributions, please meet Tucker,
a veteran who didn’t quite know his next
steps after leaving the military. The ACP
helped him access online job resources
and connect with potential employers in the farming industry,
giving him a second chance at a fulfilling career!
As we move towards better connectivity, it symbolically reflects our progress in understanding and supporting each other as it relates to emotional intelligence.
And it’s absolutely a good sign that the White House is taking the lead on this.
Let’s hope more Americans can benefit from programs like the ACP — as this growth will be a tangible reflection of our growth as an Emotionally Intelligent Nation.
My name is Rodney C. Burris. I am the White House Correspondent for BMORENews, a media outlet in Baltimore where our slogan is, “the news before the news.” This column will look at the events impacting our nation and filter them through the lens of Emotional Intelligence theory. Our goal will be to inform, to make aware, to facilitate connectivity, and then to increase the overall understanding of ourselves as a collective as we take a deep dive into the topics affecting our Emotionally Intelligent Nation.
