Atlantic Telephone Membership Cooperative is a member-owned, non-profit cooperative organized in 1955 by the citizens of Brunswick County, North Carolina who were without telephone service. ATMC is the largest member-owned cooperative in North Carolina and one of the largest in the country. Through a subsidiary company, Atlantic Telecommunications Multimedia Consolidated, LLC, ATMC began providing customers in parts of Columbus County with high-speed Internet, digitalcable TV, and digital telephone service in September 2011.
Product offerings
Telephone
ATMC has been providing telephone service to the residents of Brunswick County, North Carolina since 1957. In 1965, an extensive underground construction project was launched to replace aerial telephone lines. Party line service was initially the only offering, with private line service becoming available in 1969.
Long distance
ATMC began providing its own long-distance service in 2000, eventually upgrading to offer numerous long-distance plans and bundled services to members. Unlimited calling is now available throughout the United States.
Cable television
ATMC Cable is the brand name of cable TV service provided by ATMC. In 1981, ATMC received FCC approval to construct a cable television system to provide cable TV to rural Brunswick County. The cooperative's first cable TV customer was connected in 1982. Eight channels were available at that time; currently over 200 channels are available. ATMC made a video on demand service available to all digital customers in July 2009. In January 2011, ATMC converted its cable TV system from analog to all-digital technology. They are now able to deliver additional video services including HD-VOD, more channels, and more HD networks. The company offers over 130 HD channels to the majority of its Cable TV subscribers.
ATMC-TV
In September 2008, ATMC launched a new community channel, ATMC-TV. Available exclusively on ATMC Cable, it features people, places and events from the local Brunswick County community. Programming covers a variety of topics including Chamber of Commerce activities, fitness, and exercise, gardening and a variety of relevant topics to the local audience. ATMC-TV also covers West Brunswick High School football games and other special events throughout Brunswick County. ATMC-TV is on ATMC Cable channel 3.
Internet/Broadband
Dial-up Internet service was introduced in 1995, followed by Broadband/DSL in 2000. Broadband is currently available in 100% of the cooperative's service area. Complementary services are available, including Internet Security, Technical Support Services, PC Support Services, Webmail and a community web portal ATMConline.com. Cable modem service with speeds up to 300Mbit/s was added in March 2014.
ATMC’s wireless service is powered by the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and provides customers the option to purchase or finance the latest smart devices or bring their own phone for use. The cooperative provides flexible monthly plans that include unlimited talk & text and multiple data options, including share plans.
ATMC began deploying fiber-to-the-home technology in early 2005 to new residential neighborhoods. ATMC currently provides FTTH technology to over 70 residential neighborhoods and commercial developments across Brunswick County. ATMC was also the first company in North Carolina to be certified by the National Fiber-To-The-Home Council. and serves many residential developments in North Carolina with FTTH technology.
In March 2017, ATMC deployed a new cable access channel through a partnership with Columbus County Schools. Located on channel 98, this channel broadcasts athletic events and school-based video from the campus of Old Dock Elementary School.
