Charter Communications Inc., AT&T, Cox Communications and other broadband providers that service Southern California are offering struggling households monthly discounts of up to $50 on qualifying internet plans.

The discounts, which target low-income households and others heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, are designed to keep people connected during the health crisis. The discounts are made possible through the providers’ participation in the Federal Communications Commission’s $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which is aimed at closing the digital divide.

The credit extends to $75 for households on tribal lands.

The program is part of the $900 billion December pandemic-relief package. The government is increasing spending on broadband for millions of Americans who haven’t been able to afford it at a time when jobs, school and health care were moving online.

To be eligible for discounts through any of the providers, a member of the household must meet one of the following criteria:

• • Has an income at or below 135% of federal poverty guidelines or participates in assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid or Lifeline
  • Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or school breakfast program
  • Received a federal Pell grant during the current award year
  • Experienced a significant loss of income due to a job loss or furlough since Feb. 29, 2020, with a 2020 total household income at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers
  • Meets eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program

In Charter’s case, millions of households across the company’s 41-state operating area — including most of Southern California — are eligible through qualifying Spectrum internet plans.

“Through our participation in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, we are further breaking down barriers to connectivity for American families, as part of our long-term commitment to advance access and improve broadband adoption,” Catherine Bohigian, Charter’s executive vice president of government affairs, said in a statement.

Cox, which increased its internet download speed at the onset of COVID-19 for its low-cost internet package, announced last week that change will remain permanent to support families in greatest need.

“Although many restrictions are being lifted and people are heading back to schools and workplaces, we want to make sure regardless of circumstance, our customers can have the internet bandwidth they need to be successful,” company CEO Pat Esser said.

Families can qualify for Cox’s Connect2Compete service by visiting cox.com/c2c.

Interested consumers who are not Spectrum customers can go to spectrum.com/getqualified or call 1-855-662-9946. Current Spectrum customers can visit spectrum.net/broadbandbenefit to learn more.

AT&T customers can visit att.com/help/ebb/ for information on its discount.

Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

The program will end when the fund runs out of money, or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health crisis, whichever is sooner. The emergency funding is expected to last several months and tens of millions of people are eligible, FCC officials said.