82 FR 38686 - Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 156 (August 15, 2017)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission or Agency) is modifying an existing system of records, FCC/WCB-1, Lifeline Program, subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records maintained by the agency. The Lifeline Program (or ``Lifeline'') provides discounts for voice telephony (i.e., telephone service) and broadband Internet access service (BIAS) to qualifying low-income individuals (i.e., one Lifeline Program telephone per household). Individuals may qualify for Lifeline through proof of income or participation in another qualifying program. Since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act), the Lifeline Program has been administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Commission and, by delegation, of the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB). This system of records contains information about individual Lifeline Program participants. The modifications described in this notice will allow USAC to maintain and administer this system in a manner that promotes efficiency and minimizes waste, fraud, and abuse.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38686-38691]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17131]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission or 
Agency) is modifying an existing system of records, FCC/WCB-1, Lifeline 
Program, subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This action is 
necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the 
Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records 
maintained by the agency. The Lifeline Program (or ``Lifeline'') 
provides discounts for voice telephony (i.e., telephone service) and 
broadband Internet access service (BIAS) to qualifying low-income 
individuals (i.e., one Lifeline Program telephone per household). 
Individuals may qualify for Lifeline through proof of income or 
participation in another qualifying program. Since the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act), the Lifeline Program has 
been administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company 
(USAC) under the direction of the Commission and, by delegation, of the 
Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB). This system of records 
contains information about individual Lifeline Program participants. 
The modifications described in this notice will allow USAC to maintain 
and administer this system in a manner that promotes efficiency and 
minimizes waste, fraud, and abuse.

DATES: Written comments are due on or before September 14, 2017. This 
action (including the routine uses) will become effective on September 
14, 2017 unless comments are received that require a contrary 
determination.

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice serves to update and modify FCC/
WCB-1, Lifeline Program, to include PII that will be obtained and 
processed by the National Verifier, which is being deployed as adopted 
in the Commission's 2016 Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization 
Third Report and Order to make eligibility determinations and perform a 
variety of other functions necessary to enroll individuals into the 
Lifeline program. See 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, para. 126 (2016) (2016 Lifeline 
Modernization Order). The National Verifier will be comprised of both 
the existing National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) system 
and a new Lifeline Eligibility Database (LED). The WCB is also making 
various other updates and modifications to comply with current OMB and 
FCC policies and practices. The Lifeline Program serves low-income 
individuals by providing qualifying individuals (i.e., one Lifeline 
Program telephone per household) with discounts on voice telephony and 
BIAS service. Since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act), the 
Lifeline Program has been administered by the Universal Service 
Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Commission 
and, by delegation, of WCB. The substantive changes and modifications 
to the previously published version of the FCC/WCB-1 system of records 
include:
    (a) Changes to the security classification;
    (b) Expansion of the system's purposes as provided in the 2016 
Lifeline Modernization Order with the implementation of the National 
Verifier to make eligibility determinations and perform a variety of 
other functions necessary to enroll eligible subscribers into the 
Lifeline Program (or ``Lifeline''); to add broadband Internet access 
service (BIAS) as a Lifeline-eligible service; to include all PII used 
to determine an individual's eligibility to participate in the program 
and recertify eligibility where the National Verifier is not 
responsible for eligibility determinations; to include the PII that 
will be used by the National Verifier to verify an individual's 
eligibility for the program and recertify program participants where 
the National Verifier is responsible for eligibility determinations and 
recertification; to cover the PII that is used to ensure that 
individuals in a single household do not receive more than one Lifeline 
Program benefit; to include the PII that is needed for call center 
inquiries regarding eligibility and dispute resolution; to include the 
information necessary for the System Integrator to develop, test, and 
operate the database system and network that will be used to implement 
and operate the National Verifier; and to include the information 
submitted to the National Verifier by subscribers seeking information 
on the status of their eligibility or for dispute resolution purposes.
    (c) Expansion of the categories of individuals to include 
individuals who enable another individual in their household to qualify 
for benefits; or are individuals acting on behalf of an eligible 
telecommunications carrier who have enrolled individuals in the 
Lifeline Program;
    (d) Expansion of the categories of records to include information 
on whether the individual resides on Tribal lands, information on 
whether the address is temporary and/or descriptive and whether it 
includes coordinates, mailing address (if different), Tribal 
identification number, telephone number, full name of the qualifying 
person (if different from the individual applicant), the last four 
digits of the qualifying person's social security number, qualifying 
person's date of birth, documents demonstrating eligibility, documents 
demonstrating identity, individual contact information, Lifeline 
subscriber identification number, security question, answer to security 
question, user name, password, agent identification information (if an 
agent is assisting in completing the application), individual's 
eligibility certifications, and individual's signature and date of 
application;
    (e) Updating language and/or renumbering 9 routine uses: (1) FCC/
USAC Program Management; (2) Third Party Contractors; (5) State 
Agencies and Other Authorized State Government Entities; (10) FCC 
Enforcement Actions; (11) Congressional Inquiries; (12) Government-Wide 
Program Management and Oversight; (13) Income and Program Eligibility 
Records; (14) Law Enforcement and Investigation; and (16) Breach 
Notification to comply with OMB requirements (M-17-12);
    (f) Merging of two routine uses (15) Adjudication and Litigation 
(now includes the previous Department of Justice routine use), formerly 
(10) and (11) respectively;
    (g) Addition of 11 new routine uses: (3) Business Process Outsource 
(BPO) Entity to allow a BPO employee access to Lifeline Program 
information related

[[Page 38687]]

to the National Verifier; (4) System Integrator (SI) to allow a SI 
employee access to Lifeline Program information to develop, test and 
operate the database system and network; (6) Social Service Agencies 
and Other Approved Third Parties to allow USAC approved social service 
entities to assist individuals to apply for the Lifeline Program; (7) 
Federal Agencies to allow data sharing between FCC/USAC and other 
Federal agencies; (8) Tribal Nations to allow Tribal Nations to assist 
with Lifeline Program services; (9) Service Providers to allow 
designated ETC service providers to assist with providing Lifeline 
Program supported services and obtain reimbursement; (17) Assistance to 
Federal Agencies and Entities to comply with OMB requirements (M-17-
12); (18) Computer Matching Program Disclosure for purposes of 
conducting computer matching programs; (19) Prevention of Fraud, Waste, 
and Abuse Disclosure; (20) Information Sharing Environment Disclosure; 
and (21) Reports from the National Verifier to allow for aggregated and 
non-aggregated reports to approved parties.
    The system of records is also updated to reflect various 
administrative changes related to the system managers and system 
addresses; policy and practices for storage, retrieval, and retention 
and disposal of the records; administrative, technical, and physical 
safeguards; and updated notification, records access, and contesting 
records procedures.

SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
    FCC/WCB-1, Lifeline Program.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    No information in the system is classified.

SYSTEM LOCATION(S):
    Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), 700 12th Street 
NW., Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005; and
    Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB), Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
    USAC administers the Lifeline Program for the FCC.
    Address inquiries to the Universal Service Administrative Company 
(USAC), 700 12th Street NW., Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005; or
    Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB), 445 12th Street SW., Washington, 
DC 20554.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    47 U.S.C. 151-154, 201-205, 214, 254, 403. 47 CFR Sections 54.400-
54.423.

PURPOSE(S):
    The Lifeline Program provides discounts for voice telephony and 
BIAS service, and the initial connection charge in Tribal areas to 
support such service, to qualifying low-income individuals (i.e., one 
Lifeline telephone service per household). Individuals may qualify for 
Lifeline through proof of income or proof of participation in another 
qualifying program. The Lifeline Program system of records currently 
covers the PII that is used to determine an individual's eligibility to 
participate in the program. The system is being revised as a result of 
the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order to add the PII that will be used 
by the National Verifier and its associated uses. As a result, all PII 
that is used for one or more purposes in the Lifeline Program system of 
records' seven functions, listed below, will be covered. The 
information in these functions includes, but is not limited to:
    1. Initial Eligibility Determination:
    (a) The information that is used to verify an individual's 
eligibility to participate in the Lifeline Program, which will be 
evaluated by the eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC), USAC, or 
the applicable State authority in those areas where the National 
Verifier is not responsible for verifying eligibility.
    (b) The information that is used to verify an individual's 
eligibility to participate in the Lifeline Program using the National 
Verifier in those areas where the National Verifier is responsible for 
eligibility determination, which is now extended to include individuals 
who reside on Tribal Lands.
    2. Recertification of Subscribers:
    (a) The information used by USAC to recertify Lifeline subscribers 
for ETCs that elect to have USAC act on their behalf to recertify their 
Lifeline subscribers in those areas where the National Verifier is not 
responsible for recertification of a subscriber's Lifeline eligibility.
    (b) The information that is used by an ETC or applicable State 
authority to recertify an individual's continued eligibility to 
participate in the Lifeline Program in those areas where the National 
Verifier is not responsible for recertification of a subscriber's 
Lifeline eligibility.
    (c) The information that is used to recertify an individual's 
continued eligibility to participate in the Lifeline Program and to be 
recertified using the National Verifier in areas where the National 
Verifier is responsible for re-certification of a subscriber's Lifeline 
eligibility.
    (d) If the automated National Verifier recertification process is 
unable to recertify an individual, the recertification process will be 
done manually.
    3. One-Per-Household Evaluation:
    The information that is used to determine whether an individual in 
a household, who is applying for a Lifeline Program benefit, is already 
receiving a Lifeline Program benefit from one or more providers, i.e., 
that individuals in a single household do not receive more than one 
Lifeline Program benefit as required by 47 CFR Sections 54.404 and 
54.410.
    4. Call Center Operations, Eligibility:
    The information that is contained in the records of the inquiries 
that ETCs and individuals make to the USAC contractor call center to 
verify that an individual is eligible to participate in the Lifeline 
Program.
    5. Call Center Operations, Dispute Resolution:
    USAC will designate a third party contractor to establish a call 
center as part of USAC's dispute resolution processes. The contractor 
will operate this call center, which individuals may use who are 
seeking to participate in or are already participating in the Lifeline 
Program. These individuals may call the center to ensure that they have 
not been improperly denied access to Lifeline Program benefits through 
the verification process. Any information generated by these inquiries 
will constitute a separate, distinct database, which will include, but 
is not limited to, recordings of live agent calls, identity of the user 
initiating the request, brief description of the request, type of 
request, identification of the USAC-approved script used in responding 
to the request, resolution status, and whether the request was 
escalated (i.e., if the agent escalates the issue to the agent's 
manager or USAC program personnel). This information will be used, 
among other things, to verify the accuracy of the information stored in 
the Lifeline system.
    6. Database System Development, Testing and Operation:
    USAC will designate a third-party contractor to develop, test, and 
operate the database and system network. The contractor will establish 
the core database and automated connections to other databases. This 
information will be used, among other things, to develop technical 
parameters for database connections and matching criteria.
    7. National Verifier Status Requests and Dispute Resolution:
    (a) The information that is submitted to the National Verifier by 
subscribers

[[Page 38688]]

when seeking information on the status of their eligibility.
    (b) The information that is submitted to the National Verifier for 
dispute resolution purposes. Records in the Lifeline system are 
available for public inspection after redaction of information that 
could identify the individual participant, such as the individual's 
first and last name(s), date of birth, last four digits of social 
security number, tribal ID number, telephone number, or other PII.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    The categories of individuals in this system include, but are not 
limited to, those individuals (residing in a single household) who have 
applied for benefits; are currently receiving benefits; are individuals 
who enable another individual in their household to qualify for 
benefits; are minors whose status qualifies a parent or guardian for 
benefits; are individuals who have received benefits under the Lifeline 
Program; or are individuals acting on behalf of an ETC who have 
enrolled individuals in the Lifeline Program, which serves low-income 
individuals by providing these qualifying individuals with discounts on 
telephone and BIAS service for their household.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    The categories of records in the system include, but are not 
limited to the information that is encompassed in one or more of the 
Lifeline Program system of records' seven functions and associated 
uses.
    1. Initial Eligibility Determination, 2. Recertification of 
Subscribers, 4. Call Center Operations, Eligibility, 5. Call Center 
Operations, Dispute Resolution, and 7. National Verifier Status 
Requests and Dispute Resolution will collect, use, and maintain PII in 
their databases and files that includes, but is not limited to: 
individual applicant's first and last name; residential address; 
information on whether the individual resides on Tribal lands; 
information on whether the address is temporary and/or descriptive and 
whether it includes coordinates; mailing address (if different); date 
of birth; last four digits of social security number \1\ or Tribal 
identification number; telephone number; full name of the qualifying 
person (if different from the individual applicant); qualifying 
person's date of birth; the last four digits of the qualifying person's 
social security number or their Tribal identification number; 
information on whether the qualifying person resides on Tribal lands; 
means of qualification for Lifeline (i.e., income or relevant program 
participation); documents demonstrating eligibility; individual contact 
information; Lifeline subscriber identification number; security 
question; answer to security question; user name; password; agent 
identification information (if an agent is assisting in completing the 
application); individual applicant's eligibility certifications; 
individual applicant's signature and date of application; Lifeline 
service initiation date and termination date; amount of Lifeline 
support received per month; date of the provision of Link-Up support 
(if applicable).
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    \1\ In cases where documentation containing the individual's 
full social security number is provided, all but the last four 
digits of the number will be immediately redacted.
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    3. One-Per-Household Evaluation contains the PII on whether the 
individual's husband, wife, or domestic partner living at the same 
address has Lifeline-discounted service; whether another adult that 
lives with the individual has a Lifeline-discounted service; and 
whether the individual shares expenses for bills, food, or other living 
expenses and shares income with the other adult that lives with them. 
In order to determine whether the information is accurate, the identity 
information associated with the individual applicant is confirmed with 
a third-party verification service not in the control of USAC or the 
Commission.
    4. Call Center Operations, Eligibility will also collect, use, and 
store PII that includes the information that is contained in the 
records of the inquiries that ETCs and individuals make to the USAC 
contractor call center to verify that an individual is eligible to 
participate in the Lifeline Program.
    5. Call Center Operations, Dispute Resolution will also collect, 
use, and store PII that includes information (which is housed in a 
separate, distinct database) that is used, among other things, to 
verify the accuracy of the information in the Lifeline system. It 
includes, but is not limited to, the live recordings (i.e., voice 
prints) and related information associated with agent conversations 
with individuals who initiate calls to the call center. The PII 
includes, but is not limited, to the brief description of the request, 
type of request, identification of the USAC-approved script used in 
responding to the request, resolution status, and whether the request 
was escalated (i.e., if the agent escalates the issue to the agent's 
manager or USAC program personnel).
    6. Database System Development, Testing and Operation will collect, 
use, and store information that will comprise the PII from these other 
six Lifeline functions that is used, among other things, to develop 
technical parameters for database connections and matching criteria.
    7. National Verifier Status Requests and Dispute Resolution will 
also collect, use, and store PII that includes the information that is 
contained in the records of status requests and dispute resolution 
requests individuals make via the National Verifier.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    The sources for the information in the Lifeline Program system of 
records include, but are not limited to:
    1. The information that ETCs must provide to verify eligibility 
prior to enrolling individuals and/or to re-certify individuals (in 
qualifying households) for participation in the Lifeline Program and 
any associated agent identification information if an agent of an ETC 
is assisting an individual in applying for Lifeline benefits.
    2. The information that individuals (in qualifying households) must 
provide to determine their households' eligibility and re-certify for 
participation in the Lifeline Program, e.g., participating in other 
qualifying programs and/or services.
    3. The information submitted to the National Verifier to determine 
if an individual is eligible and to re-certify the individual for 
participation in the Lifeline Program where the National Verifier is 
responsible for eligibility determination and re-certification.
    4. The information collected from State and Federal databases which 
reflects information on individuals eligible for qualifying programs, 
even if not all such individuals are applying for the Lifeline benefit 
or participating in the Lifeline Program.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 
552a(b) of the Privacy Act, all or a portion of the records or 
information contained in this system may be disclosed to authorized 
entities, as is determined to be relevant and necessary, outside the 
FCC as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows. In 
each of these cases, the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the 
records is compatible with the purpose(s) for which the records were 
collected:
    1. FCC/USAC Program Management--To the FCC and USAC employees to 
conduct official duties associated with

[[Page 38689]]

the management and operation of the Lifeline Program, the NLAD and the 
LED (which together comprise the National Verifier), as directed by the 
Commission.
    2. Third Party Contractors--To an employee of a third-party 
contractor engaged by USAC or an ETC to, among other things, develop 
the Lifeline Eligibility Database, conduct the eligibility verification 
process, recertification process, and assist in dispute resolution.
    3. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Entity--To an employee of the 
BPO engaged by USAC to perform and review eligibility evaluations where 
the National Verifier is responsible for such processes for purposes of 
performing manual eligibility verification (when needed) and to assist 
in dispute resolution.
    4. System Integrator (SI)--To an employee of the SI engaged by USAC 
as needed to develop, test, and operate the database system and 
network.
    5. State Agencies and Other Authorized State Government Entities--
To designated State agencies and other authorized entities, which 
include, but are not limited to, State public utility commissions, 
State departments of health and human services or other State agencies 
that share data with USAC or the FCC for purposes of eligibility 
verification, and their agents, as is consistent with applicable 
Federal and State laws, in order to: administer the Lifeline Program on 
behalf of an ETC in that State; perform other management and oversight 
duties and responsibilities; enable the National Verifier to perform 
eligibility verification for individuals applying for or re-certifying 
for Lifeline support; obtain enrollment and other selected reports; 
develop and operate data sharing agreements with USAC or the FCC; 
compare information contained in the National Lifeline Accountability 
Database (NLAD) and Lifeline eligibility, recertification, and related 
systems to information contained in state databases associated with 
State-administered Lifeline Programs in order to assess differences 
between State and Federal programs and make adjustments.
    6. Social Service Agencies and Other Approved Third Parties--To 
social service agencies and other third parties that have been approved 
by USAC for purposes of assisting individuals in applying for Lifeline 
support.
    7. Federal Agencies--To other Federal agencies for the development 
of and operation under data sharing agreements with USAC or the FCC 
including, but not limited to, the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 
(CMS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), and the Department of 
Veterans' Affairs (VA), to enable the National Verifier to perform 
eligibility verification or recertification for individuals applying 
for Lifeline support.
    8. Tribal Nations--To Tribal Nations to perform eligibility 
verification or recertification for individuals applying for Lifeline 
support and to obtain enrollment and other selected reports.
    9. Service Providers--To service providers who have been designated 
as ETCs in order to confirm an individual's eligibility and conduct 
recertification (where the National Verifier, State, or USAC are not 
responsible for confirming eligibility and/or conducting 
recertification), complete benefit transfer requests, facilitate the 
provision of service, allow for the Service Provider to receive 
reimbursement through the Lifeline Program, and obtain enrollment and 
other selected reports.
    10. FCC Enforcement Actions--When a record in this system involves 
an informal complaint filed alleging a violation of FCC rules and 
regulations by an applicant, licensee, certified or regulated entity, 
or an unlicensed person or entity, the complaint may be provided to the 
alleged violator for a response. Where a complainant in filing his or 
her complaint explicitly requests confidentiality of his or her name 
from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such 
information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests 
for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that 
the request impedes the Commission's ability to investigate and/or 
resolve the complaint.
    11. Congressional Inquiries--To provide information to a 
Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an 
inquiry from that Congressional office made at the request of that 
individual.
    12. Government-Wide Program Management and Oversight--To the 
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for use in its 
records inspections; to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for 
oversight purposes; to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that 
department's advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom 
of Information Act (FOIA); or the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
to obtain that office's advice regarding obligations under the Privacy 
Act.
    13. Income and Program Eligibility Records--To the appropriate 
Federal and/or State authorities for the purposes of determining 
whether a household may participate in the Lifeline Program.
    14. Law Enforcement and Investigation--To disclose pertinent 
information to appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies, 
authorities, and officials responsible for investigating, prosecuting, 
enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where 
the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential 
violation of a civil or criminal statute, law, regulation, or order, 
including but not limited to notifying the Internal Revenue Service 
(IRS) to investigate income eligibility verification.
    15. Adjudication and Litigation--To the Department of Justice 
(DOJ), in a proceeding before a court, or other administrative or 
adjudicative body before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when 
(a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in 
his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her 
individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent 
the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or has 
an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by DOJ or 
the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the 
litigation.
    16. Breach Notification--To appropriate agencies, entities 
(including USAC), and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has 
confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) 
the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or 
confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the 
Commission (including its information systems, programs, and 
operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the 
disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably 
necessary to assist in connection with the Commission's efforts to 
respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, 
or remedy such harm.
    17. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities--To another Federal 
agency or Federal entity or USAC, when the Commission determines that 
information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the 
recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or 
confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk 
of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its 
information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, 
or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

[[Page 38690]]

    18. Computer Matching Program Disclosure--To Federal, State, and 
local agencies, and USAC, their employees, and agents for the purpose 
of conducting computer matching programs as regulated by the Privacy 
Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a).
    19. Prevention of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Disclosure--To Federal 
agencies, non-Federal entities, their employees, and agents (including 
contractors, their agents or employees; employees or contractors of the 
agents or designated agents); or contractors, their employees or agents 
with whom the FCC or USAC has a contract, service agreement, 
cooperative agreement, or computer matching agreement for the purpose 
of: (1) Detection, prevention, and recovery of improper payments; (2) 
detection and prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse in Federal programs 
administered by a Federal agency or non-Federal entity; (3) detection 
of fraud, waste, and abuse by individuals in their operations and 
programs, but only to the extent that the information shared is 
necessary and relevant to verify pre-award and prepayment requirements 
prior to the release of Federal funds, prevent and recover improper 
payments for services rendered under programs of the FCC or of those 
Federal agencies and non-Federal entities to which the FCC or USAC 
provides information under this routine use.
    20. Information Sharing Environment Disclosure--To contractors, 
grantees, experts, consultants and their agents, or others performing 
or working under a contract, service, grant, or cooperative agreement 
with the FCC or USAC, when necessary to accomplish an agency function 
related to a system of records. Disclosure requirements are limited to 
only those data elements considered relevant to accomplishing an agency 
function. Individuals who provide information under these routine use 
conditions are subject to Privacy Act requirements and disclosure 
limitations imposed on the Commission.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
    The information pertaining to the Lifeline Program includes 
electronic records, files, data, paper documents, records, and may 
include audio recordings of calls. Records are maintained in secure, 
limited access areas. Physical entry by unauthorized persons is 
restricted through use of locks, passwords, and other security 
measures. Both USAC and its contractors will jointly manage the 
electronic data housed at USAC and at the contractors' locations. Paper 
documents and other physical records (i.e., tapes, compact discs, etc.) 
will be kept in locked, controlled access areas. Paper documents 
submitted by applicants to the Lifeline Program will be digitized, and 
paper copies will be immediately destroyed.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
    Information in the Lifeline Program system of records may be 
retrieved by various identifiers, including, but not limited to the 
individual's name, last four digits of the Social Security Number 
(SSN), Tribal identification number, date of birth, phone number, 
residential address, and Lifeline subscriber identification number.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
    The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has not 
established a records schedule for the information in the Lifeline 
Program system of records. Consequently, until NARA has approved a 
records schedule, USAC will maintain all information in the Lifeline 
Program system of records in accordance with NARA records management 
directives. The 2012 Lifeline Reform Order states that information in 
the Lifeline Program is maintained for ten years after the consumer de-
enrolls from the Lifeline Program. See Lifeline and Link Up Reform and 
Modernization et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, 27 FCC Rcd 6656, 6740, para. 195 (2012). Disposal of 
obsolete or out-of-date paper documents and files is by shredding only. 
Electronic data, files, and records are destroyed by electronic 
erasure.

ADMINSTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
    The electronic records, data, and files are maintained in the FCC 
and the USAC computer network databases, which are protected by the 
FCC's IT privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT 
safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet 
all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the 
National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) and the Federal 
Information Security Management System (FISMA). In addition, access to 
the electronic files is restricted to authorized USAC and contractors' 
supervisors and staff and to the FCC's IT supervisors and staff and to 
the IT contractors who maintain these computer databases. Other FCC 
employees and contractors may be granted access only on a ``need-to-
know'' basis. In addition, data in the network servers for both USAC 
and its contractors will be routinely backed-up. The servers will be 
stored in secured environments to protect the data.
    The paper documents and files are maintained in file cabinets in 
USAC and the contractors' office suites. The file cabinets are locked 
when not in use and at the end of the business day. Access to these 
files is restricted to authorized USAC and its contractors' staffs.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
    Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records 
contains information about them may do so by writing to the Universal 
Service Administrative Company (USAC), 700 12th Street NW., Suite 900, 
Washington, DC 20005; or
    Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB), Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554; or
    Leslie F. Smith, Privacy Manager, Information Technology (IT), 
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20554, or email [email protected].
    Individuals must furnish reasonable identification by showing any 
two of the following: Social security card; driver's license; employee 
identification card; Medicare card; birth certificate; bank credit 
card; or other positive means of identification, or by signing an 
identity statement stipulating that knowingly or willfully seeking or 
obtaining access to records about another person under false pretenses 
is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000.
    Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC's 
Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity and access 
to records (47 CFR part 0, subpart E).

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    Individuals wishing to request access (and/or amendment) to records 
about them should follow the Notification Procedure above.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
    Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about them 
should follow the Notification Procedure above.

EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
    None.

HISTORY:
    The FCC last gave full notice of this system of records, FCC/WCB-1, 
Lifeline Program, by publication in the Federal Register, 78 FR 73535 
(Dec. 6, 2013).


[[Page 38691]]


Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-17131 Filed 8-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P