The pandemic made clear just how critical internet connectivity is for all Americans. That access ties into an array of industries and sectors — fueling innovation, education, and economic growth. Just as this foundation of modern life will remain, so too should our commitment to ensure that the internet is not out of reach for millions of Americans.
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On Saturday, May 6th, Verizon participated in the Cinco de Mayo Family Festival at Adelanto, CA, in partnership with the High Desert Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Verizon shared information about our exciting 5G Home internet and the Affordable Connectivity Program. Verizon is a proud sponsor and had a great time celebrating with the community. To get a glimpse of this incredible event, check out the photos below!
On April 29th, Verizon sponsored the Latino Health Access Health Fair in Santa Ana, CA. VZ’s SGA Erica Jacquez and Magaly Chavez participated and promoted the Affordable Connectivity Program. Our 5G Home team also participated and shared our 5G Home Internet, which provides our 5G wireless network built to connect your home with ultra-fast internet. Get a glimpse into this incredible event, check out the pictures below! To learn more about Verizon and the affordable care program, visit https://www.verizon.com/prepaid/affordable-connectivity-program
By Kathy Grillo, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Verizon
Congress has an opportunity to extend funding for this successful program and reform existing broadband subsidies.
Recently, Congress has taken meaningful steps to tackle broadband affordability and accessibility in rural and urban areas. The pandemic brought home to all of us how critical it is for all citizens to have robust broadband connectivity for work, school, healthcare, civic engagement, and more. This is why Congress passed and Verizon participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides subsidized internet services for eligible low-income households.
The ACP is a bipartisan, historic achievement in addressing affordability challenges. It allows tens of millions of eligible American households to receive a subsidy up to $30/month or $75/month on Tribal lands for high-speed internet service, which means they can access many of our home and mobile plans for free.
To date, almost 18 million American households have signed up for the program. However, current projections show that ACP funding could run out as soon as the first quarter of 2024. We believe Congress needs to develop a plan to keep the ACP program funded while also developing long-term reforms to current broadband subsidy programs to ensure they operate efficiently, avoid duplication, and target funding to those who need it most.
On April 28th, Verizon’s State Government Affairs Jay Day participated in Kern County’s STEMPOSIUM and Career Fair where information was shared about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The Kern County Career & STEM Expo in Bakersfield, CA brings students and businesses together for an exposition that allows students to showcase their best STEM projects, businesses to demonstrate STEM-related equipment and skills used in the workplace, and the community to gather and promote STEM Careers in Kern County. Verizon is a proud sponsor.
On April 20th, Verizon’s Dominique Cano-Stocco and the VZ 5G Home team participated in the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) with the San Diego College of Continuing Education on the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) enrollment event held in San Diego, CA. The event focused on sharing information on how to get connected to fast, reliable home internet in the San Diego region.
Internet connectivity is more important than ever. Over the past year, the Affordable Connectivity Program has made incredible strides in connecting Americans across the country. As of April 2023, more than 17 million households have enrolled in the ACP.
Click below to see how digital navigators at Connect Lake County in Waukegan, Illinois are helping eligible households use the ACP to get online.
On March 10th, Verizon’s Erica Jacquez participated in Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) 32nd Annual Latina History Day® Conference that brought together over 1,000 women to recognize and celebrate the historic and current achievements of Latinas while embracing the rich diversity of the Latina experience. In addition, the Verizon 5G Home Internet team shared our exciting Home internet, and community partner, the Southeast Community Development Corporation, enrolled participants in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
On March 11, 2023, the Verizon team participated in the Day of the Young Child / Día de los Niños in Coachella, CA. The event was a community outreach event in the Coachella Valley to connect families and agencies to community resources. In addition, the Verizon 5G Home Internet team shared our exciting Home internet, and community partner Sigma Beta Xi enrolled participants in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
On February 21, 2023, Verizon’s tribal liaison Kuulei Jakubczak participated in an event with FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks and Representative Steven Horsford (NV-04), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. The event raised awareness of the digital divide’s impact on Black communities and federal programs that can help all eligible Americans secure the connectivity they need to thrive in a 21st-century digital economy.
The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority also partnered on the event. It featured remarks from officials, including the Executive Director of the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority and the Director of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation & Technology, to promote the Affordable Connectivity Program and state and local efforts to expand broadband access and adoption.
US Tech Future is a Verizon-led community-focused initiative working to engage the local community in a discussion about technology and how it can improve the lives of local residents for their benefit and the benefit of the community as a whole.
Our mission is to engage with citizens and community stakeholders in USA to provide information on how technology can work to have a dramatic impact on the way we work and live in our communities.
