[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 101 (Friday, May 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24141-24142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10938]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of a new matching program.

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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 agencies from the 
States of Georgia and Iowa. 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. More information about this 
program is provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

DATES: Written comments are due on or before June 24, 2019. This 
computer matching program will commence on June 24, 2019, unless 
comments are received that require a contrary determination, and will 
conclude on November 24, 2020.

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), 
Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, or various Tribal-specific 
federal assistance programs. 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. The purpose of this particular 
program is to verify Lifeline eligibility by establishing that 
applicants or subscribers from Georgia and Iowa are enrolled in the 
SNAP program.
    Participating Non-Federal Agencies:

[[Page 24142]]

     The Georgia Department of Human Services, Department of 
Children and Family Services; and
     The Iowa Department of Human Services.
    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; 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 82 FR 38686 
(Aug. 15, 2017) and became effective on September 14, 2017.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-10938 Filed 5-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P