82 FR 37587 - Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 154 (August 11, 2017)

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (``Privacy Act''), this notice announces the establishment of a computer matching program the Federal Communications Commission (``FCC'' or ``Commission'' or ``Agency'') and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) will conduct with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of this matching program is to verify the eligibility of applicants to and subscribers of the Universal Service Fund (USF) Lifeline program, which is administered by USAC under the direction of the FCC.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 154 (Friday, August 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37587-37588]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17006]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of a new matching program.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended 
(``Privacy Act''), this notice announces the establishment of a 
computer matching program the Federal Communications Commission 
(``FCC'' or ``Commission'' or ``Agency'') and the Universal Service 
Administrative Company (USAC) will conduct with the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of this matching 
program is to verify the eligibility of applicants to and subscribers 
of the Universal Service Fund (USF) Lifeline program, which is 
administered by USAC under the direction of the FCC.

DATES: Written comments are due on or before September 11, 2017. This 
computer matching program will commence on September 11, 2017 unless 
comments are received that require a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Mr. Leslie F. Smith, Privacy Manager, 
Information Technology (IT), Room 1-C216, FCC, 445 12th Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20554, or to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Leslie F. Smith, (202) 418-0217, 
or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Lifeline program provides support for 
discounted broadband and voice services to low-income consumers. 
Lifeline is administered by the Universal Service Administrative 
Company (USAC) under FCC direction. Consumers qualify for Lifeline 
through proof of income or participation in a qualifying program, such 
as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), 
Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), 
or Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit. In a Report and Order 
adopted on March 31, 2016, the Commission ordered USAC to create a 
National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (``National Verifier''), 
including the National Lifeline Eligibility Database (LED), that would 
match data about Lifeline applicants and subscribers with other data 
sources to verify the eligibility of an applicant or subscriber. The 
Commission found that the National Verifier would reduce compliance 
costs for Lifeline service providers, improve service for Lifeline 
subscribers, and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the program.

PARTICIPATING AGENCY:
    The Department of Housing and Urban Development--Enterprise Income 
Verification System (EIV) (HUD/PIH-05), Inventory Management System 
(IMS/PIC) (HUD/PIH-01), and Tenant Rental Assistance Certification 
Systems (TRACS) (HUD/H-11);

AUTHORITY FOR CONDUCTING THE MATCHING PROGRAM:
    47 U.S.C. 254; 47 CFR 54.400 et seq.; Lifeline and Link Up Reform 
and Modernization, et al., Third Report and Order, Further Report and 
Order, and Order on Reconsideration, 31 FCC Rcd 3962, 4006-21, paras. 
126-66 (2016) (2016 Lifeline Modernization Order).

PURPOSE(S):
    In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order, the FCC required USAC to 
develop and operate a National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (National 
Verifier) to improve efficiency and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in 
the Lifeline program. The stated purpose of the National Verifier is 
``to increase the integrity and improve the performance of the Lifeline 
program for the benefit of a variety of Lifeline participants, 
including Lifeline providers, subscribers, states, community-based 
organizations, USAC, and the Commission.'' 31 FCC Rcd 3962, 4006, para. 
126. To help determine whether Lifeline applicants and subscribers are 
eligible for Lifeline benefits, the Order contemplates that a USAC-
operated Lifeline Eligibility Database (LED) will communicate with 
information systems and databases operated by other Federal and State 
agencies. Id. at 4011-2, paras. 135-7.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS:
    The categories of individuals whose information is involved in this 
matching program include, but are not limited to, those individuals 
(residing in a single household) who have applied for Lifeline 
benefits; are currently receiving Lifeline benefits; are individuals 
who enable another individual in their household to qualify for 
Lifeline benefits; are minors whose status qualifies a parent or 
guardian for Lifeline benefits; are individuals who have received 
Lifeline benefits; or are individuals acting on behalf of an eligible 
telecommunications carrier (ETC) who have enrolled individuals in the 
Lifeline program.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS:
    The categories of records involved in the matching program include, 
but are not limited to, a Lifeline applicant or subscriber's full name; 
physical and mailing addresses; partial Social Security number or 
Tribal ID number; date of birth; qualifying person's full name (if 
qualifying person is different from subscriber); qualifying person's 
physical and mailing addresses;

[[Page 37588]]

qualifying person's partial Social Security number or Tribal ID number, 
and qualifying person's date of birth. The National Verifier will 
transfer these data elements to the source agencies, which will respond 
either ``yes'' or ``no'' that the individual is enrolled in a Lifeline-
qualifying assistance program.

SYSTEM(S) OF RECORDS:
    The USAC records shared as part of this matching program reside in 
the Lifeline system of records, FCC/WCB-1, Lifeline Program, a notice 
of which the FCC published at 78 FR 73535 (Dec. 6, 2013). The FCC is in 
the process of publishing an update to this system of records that 
reflects the new uses involved in operating this matching program.

Federal Communications Commission.
Katura Jackson,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-17006 Filed 8-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P