[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84325-84326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26697]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[FR ID: 187883]


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 document announces a new 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. The purpose of this matching program is to verify the 
eligibility of applicants to and subscribers of the Affordable 
Connectivity Program (ACP), 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 January 4, 2024. This 
computer matching program will commence on January 4, 2024, and will 
conclude 18 months after the effective date.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elliot S. Tarloff at 202-418-0886 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2021, Public Law 116-260, 134 Stat. 1182, 2129-36 (2020), Congress 
created the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program,

[[Page 84326]]

and directed use of the National Verifier to determine eligibility 
based on various criteria, including the qualifications for Lifeline 
(Medicaid, SNAP, etc.). EBBP provided $3.2 billion in monthly consumer 
discounts for broadband service and one-time provider reimbursement for 
a connected device (laptop, desktop computer or tablet). In the 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 
429, 1238-44 (2021) (codified at 47 U.S.C. 1751-52), Congress modified 
and extended EBBP, provided an additional $14.2 billion, and renamed it 
the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). A household may qualify for 
the ACP 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) (2016 Lifeline Modernization Order), 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 
ACP. The purpose of this matching program is to verify the eligibility 
of ACP applicants and subscribers by determining whether they receive 
SNAP and Medicaid benefits administered by the Minnesota Department of 
Human Services.

Participating Agencies

    Minnesota Department of Human Services (source agency), Federal 
Communications Commission (recipient agency) and Universal Service 
Administrative Company.

Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The authority to conduct the matching program for the FCC's ACP is 
47 U.S.C. 1752(a)-(b).

Purpose(s)

    The purpose of this new matching agreement is to verify the 
eligibility of applicants and subscribers to ACP and other Federal 
programs that use qualification for Lifeline as an eligibility 
criterion. This new agreement will permit eligibility verification for 
ACP by checking an applicant's/subscriber's participation in the SNAP 
and Medicaid Program. Under FCC rules, consumers receiving these 
benefits qualify for ACP 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 ACP benefits; are currently receiving ACP benefits; or 
who have received ACP benefits.

Categories of Records

    The categories of records involved in the matching program include 
the last four digits of the 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 qualifying assistance program: SNAP and Medicaid 
administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

System(s) of Records

    The records shared as part of this matching program reside in the 
ACP system of records, FCC/WCB-3, Affordable Connectivity Program, 
which was published in the Federal Register at 86 FR 71494 (Dec. 16, 
2021).

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-26697 Filed 12-4-23; 8:45 am]
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