[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14426-14428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05424]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[FR ID: 17566]


Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

[[Page 14427]]


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 document announces the modification 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 U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
(CMS) (``Agency''). The purpose of this matching program is to verify 
the eligibility of applicants to and subscribers of Lifeline (existing 
purpose) and the new Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, both of which 
are administered by USAC under the direction of the FCC. More 
information about these programs is provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section below.

DATES: Written comments are due on or before April 15, 2021. This 
computer matching program will commence on April 15, 2021, and will 
conclude 18 months after the effective date.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Margaret Drake, FCC, 45 L Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, or to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Drake at 202-418-1707 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.
    The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP) was established by 
Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Public Law 
116-260, 134 Stat. 1182. EBBP is a program that will help low-income 
Americans obtain discounted broadband service and one-time co-pay for a 
connected device (laptop, desktop computer or tablet). This program was 
created specifically to assist American families' access to broadband, 
which has proven to be essential for work, school, and healthcare 
during the public health emergency that exists as a result of COVID-19. 
A household may qualify for the EBBP benefit under various criteria, 
including an individual qualifying for the FCC's Lifeline program.
    In a Report and Order adopted on March 31, 2016 (81 FR 33026 (May 
24, 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 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 directs the FCC to 
leverage the National Verifier to verify applicants' eligibility for 
EBBP. The purpose of this matching program is to verify the eligibility 
of EBBP applicants and subscribers by determining whether they receive 
Medicaid or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits 
administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Under FCC rules, consumers 
receiving these benefits qualify for Lifeline discounts and also for 
EBBP benefits.

Participating Non-Federal Agencies

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare 
& Medicaid Services.

Authority for Conducting the Matching Progam

    The authority for the FCC's EBBP is Consolidated Appropriations Act 
of 2021, Public Law 116-260, 134 Stat. 1182; 47 CFR part 54, subpart P. 
The authority for the FCC's Lifeline program is 47 U.S.C. 254; 47 CFR 
part 54, subpart E; 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) (81 FR 
33026 (May 24, 2016) (2016 Lifeline Modernization Order).

Purposes(s)

    In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order, the FCC required USAC to 
develop and operate the 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 the USAC-operated LED will 
communicate with information systems and databases operated by other 
Federal and State agencies. Id. at 4011-2, paras. 135-7. The 
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 directs the FCC to leverage the 
National Verifier to verify applicants' eligibility for EBBP.
    The purpose of this modified matching agreement is to verify the 
eligibility of applicants and subscribers to Lifeline (existing 
purpose), as well as to the new EBBP and to other Federal programs that 
use qualification for Lifeline as an eligibility criterion. This new 
agreement would replace the existing agreement with CMS, which permits 
matching only for the Lifeline program by checking an applicant's/
subscriber's participation in Medicaid. Under FCC rules, consumers 
receiving these benefits qualify for Lifeline discounts and also for 
EBBP benefits.

Categories of Individuals

    The categories of individuals whose information is involved in the 
matching program include, but are not limited to, those individuals who 
have applied for Lifeline and/or EBBP benefits; are currently receiving 
Lifeline and/or EBBP benefits; are individuals who enable another 
individual in their household to qualify for Lifeline and/or EBBP 
benefits; are minors whose status qualifies a parent or guardian for 
Lifeline and/or EBBP benefits; or are individuals who have received 
Lifeline and/or EBBP benefits.

Categories of Records

    The categories of records involved in the matching program include, 
but are not limited to, the last four digits of the applicant's Social 
Security Number, date of birth, state of residence, first name, and 
last name. The National Verifier will transfer these data elements to 
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare 
& Medicaid Services which will respond either ``yes'' or ``no'' that 
the individual is enrolled in a qualifying assistance program: U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services, Medicaid.

System(s) of Records

    The records shared as part of this matching program reside in the 
Lifeline system of records, FCC/WCB-1,

[[Page 14428]]

Lifeline, which was published in the Federal Register at 86 FR 11526 
(Feb. 25, 2021).
    The records shared as part of this matching program reside in the 
EBBP system of records, FCC/WCB-3, Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, 
which was published in the Federal Register at 86 FR 11523 (Feb. 25, 
2021).

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-05424 Filed 3-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P