[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18545-18546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06519]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[FR ID 133943]


Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Establishment of a Matching Program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended 
(``Privacy Act''), this document 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 Minnesota 
Department of Human Services (``Minnesota''). 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 April 28, 2023. This 
computer matching program will commence on April 28, 2023, and will 
conclude 18 months later.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elliot Tarloff at 202-418-0886 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, and/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 
matching program is to verify Lifeline eligibility by establishing that 
applicants or subscribers in Minnesota are enrolled in the SNAP or 
Medicaid programs.

Participating Non-Federal Agency

     Minnesota 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

[[Page 18546]]

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 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.

Categories of Individuals

    The categories of individuals whose information is involved in the 
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, the last four digits of the Lifeline 
applicant's Social Security Number, date of birth, and first and last 
name. The National Verifier will transfer these data elements to the 
Minnesota Department of Human Services which will respond either 
``yes'' or ``no'' that the individual is enrolled in a Lifeline-
qualifying assistance program: SNAP or Medicaid.

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 86 FR 11526 (Feb. 25, 2021).

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-06519 Filed 3-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P