[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66110-66111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18131]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[FR ID: 237534]


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 South Carolina Department of 
Social Services. The purpose of this matching program is to verify the 
eligibility of applicants to and subscribers of Lifeline, and the 
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), 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 September 13, 2024. This 
computer matching program will commence on September 13, 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: 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 the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260, 
134 Stat. 1182, 2129-36 (2020), Congress created the Emergency 
Broadband Benefit Program, and directed use of the National Verifier to 
determine eligibility based on various criteria, including the

[[Page 66111]]

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 Lifeline and ACP applicants and subscribers by determining whether 
they receive SNAP benefits administered by the South Carolina 
Department of Social Services.

Participating Agencies

    South Carolina Department of Social 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). The authority to conduct the matching program 
for the FCC's Lifeline program is 47 U.S.C. 254(a)-(c), (j).

Purpose(s)

    The purpose of this new matching agreement is to verify the 
eligibility of applicants and subscribers to Lifeline, as well as to 
ACP and other Federal programs that use qualification for Lifeline as 
an eligibility criterion. This new agreement will permit eligibility 
verification for the Lifeline program and ACP by checking an 
applicant's/subscriber's participation in SNAP in South Carolina. Under 
FCC rules, consumers receiving these benefits qualify for Lifeline 
discounts and also 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 Lifeline and/or ACP benefits; are currently receiving 
Lifeline and/or ACP benefits; are individuals who enable another 
individual in their household to qualify for Lifeline and/or ACP 
benefits; are minors whose status qualifies a parent or guardian for 
Lifeline and/or ACP benefits; or are individuals who have received 
Lifeline and/or 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 last name. The National Verifier will transfer these data 
elements to the South Carolina Department of Social Services which will 
respond either ``yes'' or ``no'' that the individual is enrolled in a 
qualifying assistance program: SNAP administered by the South Carolina 
Department of Social Services.

System(s) of Records

    The records shared as part of this matching program reside in the 
Lifeline system of records, FCC/WCB-1, 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 
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. 2024-18131 Filed 8-13-24; 8:45 am]
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