Shallotte, NC – ATMC announced today that it will participate in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB), a temporary Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program designed to aid households struggling to pay for internet service during the coronavirus pandemic. The FCC is using the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to implement the program.

This federal program will provide a temporary monthly discount of up to $50 on internet bills for households that meet certain income eligibility requirements. The FCC has not yet opened the process to determine eligible households, but the program is expected to begin enrolling participants on May 12th.

To take advantage of this benefit, customers must first check to see if they meet program eligibility requirements by going to the www.getemergencybroadband.org website. Here customers may need to present verification documentation proving they meet eligibility requirements. Other methods which may be used to determine eligibility are listed on the verification website. Customers who are already enrolled in the FCC’s Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers are automatically eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.

Once program eligibility status has been determined, customers may contact ATMC to finish enrolling in the program and have the benefit applied to their existing internet service or establish new internet service. Customers must have their eligibility for the program determined through www.getemergencybroadband.org before calling ATMC.

The program will be available until the funding runs out or until six months after the end of the federal coronavirus “Emergency Period” as defined by Congress, whichever comes first. After the program has ended, customers who continue to need assistance paying for internet service have the option to apply for the Federal Lifeline Benefit program. This program offers a monthly $9.25 discount on broadband service to low-income customers who meet certain eligibility requirements. ATMC will then match the Lifeline Benefit discount when applied to broadband service for a total monthly discount of $18.50. When applied to ATMC’s $49.95 package of 50 Mbps internet service, the monthly cost to qualifying customers would be $31.45.

For more information about this program, please visit www.atmc.com/EBBP.