ATMC Offers New Discount on Broadband to Low Income Families

Shallotte, NC – ATMC announced that the cooperative has introduced a new broadband assistance program, called ATMC Lifeline Match, that will provide an additional discount of $9.25 per month on broadband service for low-income cooperative members that qualify for the Federal Communication Commission’s National Lifeline Program. ATMC members who apply and qualify for both discounts will be eligible for a combined monthly reduction of $18.50 towards their ATMC broadband service.

Lifeline is a federal benefit that lowers the monthly cost of internet, telephone or wireless service for qualifying low-income customers. Cooperative members who wish to take advantage of additional savings from the ATMC Lifeline Match Program must first be found eligible for Lifeline through the Universal Service Administrative Company’s National Verifier website. Households with income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or those who receive Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit Programs, or certain tribal programs may be eligible.

Lifeline is currently available to subscribers in the cooperative service area only, but ATMC is taking steps to extend eligibility for the Lifeline assistance program to customers outside of the cooperative service area in the coming months. “With the rise of COVID-19, access to high speed internet is a necessity for connecting students to online classes and helping workers remotely connect to their jobs,” said Keith Holden, ATMC CEO. “We started the ATMC Lifeline Match Program as a way in which we can help remove some of the uncertainty in how low-income families connect and stay connected.”

For more information about eligibility for the federal Lifeline program, ATMC members can visit www.LifelineSupport.org and submit a verification application online. Once eligibility is confirmed, customers can call 910-754-4311 to enroll, or visit any ATMC retail location.

About ATMC
ATMC is a member-owned cooperative providing a multitude of communications services, including telephone, business services, wireless, broadband internet, cable television, and ATMC Security, in Brunswick County, North Carolina. ATMC provides services in additional areas through its wholly-owned subsidiary, ATMC, LLC. ATMC is the largest communications cooperative in North Carolina and one of the largest in the country. For more information on ATMC products and services, visit atmc.com.
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