Systems of Records Published Between January 2, 2026 and December 31, 2027

fcc-01

FCC-1, Outreach

Unclassified.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20554;

Universal Service Administrative Company, 700 12th Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005; or FISMA compliant contractor.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC); or FISMA compliant contractor.

47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 155, 257, 303; and 5 U.S.C. 602(c) and 609(a)(3).

The FCC and organizations administering programs on behalf of the FCC use this system to conduct outreach to individuals and businesses.

Individuals and businesses.

Contact information, such as name, phone numbers, emails, and addresses, as well as work and educational history.

Information in this system is provided by individuals or businesses who wish to be contacted by the FCC regarding issues in the communications industry, the mission of the FCC, FCC programs, or networking opportunities.

Third Parties – To third parties, including individuals and businesses in the communications industry, FCC vendors and their contractors, and other federal agencies to facilitate outreach and networking opportunities.

Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or to other administrative or adjudicative bodies before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC have agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, local, or tribal agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, when the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

Congressional Inquiries – To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To provide information to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act; or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of PII maintained in the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information system, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities – To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

Non-Federal Personnel – To disclose information to non-federal personnel, including contractors, who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

In each of these cases, the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the records is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

REPORTING TO A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:

In addition to the routine uses cited above, the Commission may share information from this system of records with a consumer reporting agency regarding an individual who has not paid a valid and overdue debt owed to the Commission, following the procedures set out in the Debt Collection Act, 31 U.S.C. 3711(e).

This an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s network, USAC’s network, or on an FCC vendor’s network.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., first name or zip code.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) General Records Schedule 6.5, Item 020 (DAA-GRS-2017-0002-0002).

The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC, USAC, or a vendor’s accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s, USAC’s, or vendor’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC, USAC, and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records contains information about themselves may do so by writing Privacy@fcc.gov. Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity to gain access to

records as required under 47 CFR part 0, subpart E.

None.

This is a new system of records.

fcc-02

FCC-2, Business Contacts and Certifications

Unclassified.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554; Universal Service Administrative Company, 700 12th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005; or FISMA compliant contractor.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Office of the Managing Director, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, (888) 225-5322; Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), 700 12th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005; or FISMA-compliant contractors.

47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154 (i)-(j) & (o), 155, 251(e)(3), 254, 257, 301, 303, 332, 402, 1302; and 5 U.S.C. 602(c) and 609(a)(3).

The FCC and organizations administering programs on behalf of the FCC use this system to collect and maintain points of contact and certifications from: (1) entities regulated by the FCC and in related industries, as well as contractors, vendors, and those performing collateral duties for the FCC; (2) other Federal, state, local, U.S. territorial, and Tribal government entities that administer, support, participate in, or receive information related to, FCC programs and activities; and (3) public interest organizations, nonprofit organizations, international organizations, and other non-business entities that participate in FCC proceedings or are included in FCC programs.

Individuals, including points of contact for and those who certify on behalf of, businesses, public interest organizations, nonprofit organizations, government organizations, international organizations, and other non-business entities that participate in FCC proceedings or are included in FCC programs; points of contact for Federal, state, local, U.S. territorial, or Tribal governmental entities.

Contact information, such as name, username, signature, phone numbers, emails, and addresses, as well as work and educational history.

Information in this system is provided by individuals, including points of contact for and those who certify on behalf of: FCC contractors; vendors; those providing collateral duties to the FCC; regulated entities and entities in related industries; Federal, state, local, U.S. territorial, and Tribal government entities; public interest organizations, nonprofit organizations, government organizations, international organizations, and other non-business entities that participate in FCC proceedings.

1. Public Access—Contact information and certifications made by individuals contained in this system may be made available for public inspection to comply with FCC regulations that require public disclosure of this information, or in Commission releases, including notices of proposed rulemaking, public notices, orders, and other actions released by the Commission.

2. Authorized Third Parties—Contact information and certifications made by individuals contained in this system may be shared with authorized third parties, including individuals and businesses in regulated and related industries, FCC vendors, and their contractors, to administer, support, participate in, or receive information related to, FCC programs and activities; or to ensure compliance with the confidentiality and other rules regarding information sharing in the FCC’s programs and activities.

3. Federal Agencies—Contact information and certifications made by individuals contained in this system may be shared with other Federal agencies in order to administer, support, participate in, or receive information related to: FCC programs and activities; and programs and activities the FCC supports.

4. State, Local, U.S. Territorial, and Tribal Government Entities—Contact information and certifications made by individuals contained in this system may be shared with authorized state, local, U.S. territorial and Tribal government entities to administer, support, participate in, or receive information related to: FCC programs and activities; and programs and activities the FCC supports.

5. Litigation—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

6. Adjudication—Records may be disclosed in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

7. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, order, or other compulsory obligation.

8. Congressional Inquiries—Information may be provided to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of the individual to whom the information pertains.

9. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

10. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of PII maintained in the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information system, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission's efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

11. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

12. Non-Federal Personnel—Records may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors ( e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

13. Department of Treasury—Records may be disclosed to the U.S. Department of Treasury when disclosure of the information is relevant to review payment and award eligibility through the Do Not Pay Working System for the purposes of identifying, preventing, or recouping improper payments to an applicant for, or recipient of, Federal funds, including funds disbursed by a state (meaning a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a federally recognized Indian tribe) in a state-administered, federally funded program.

14. Prevention of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Disclosure—Records may be disclosed to Federal agencies, non-Federal entities, their employees, and agents (including contractors, their agents or employees; employees or contractors of the agents or designated agents); or contractors, their employees or agents with whom the FCC has a contract, service agreement, cooperative agreement, or computer matching agreements for the purpose of: (1) detection, prevention, and recovery of improper payments; (2) detection and prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse in Federal programs administered by a Federal agency or non-Federal entity; (3) detection of fraud, waste, and abuse by individuals in their operations and programs, but only to the extent that the information shared is necessary and relevant to verify pre-award and prepayment requirements prior to the release of Federal funds, prevent and recover improper payments for services rendered under programs of the FCC or of those Federal agencies and non-Federal entities to which the FCC provides information under this routine use.

This is an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s network, USAC’s network, or on an FCC vendor’s network.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., first name or email address.

The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC, USAC, or a vendor accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s, USAC’s, or a vendor’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC, USAC, and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records contains information about themselves may do so by writing to privacy@fcc.gov. Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity to gain access to records as required under 47 CFR part 0, subpart E.

None.

88 FR 77580 (Nov. 13, 2023).

fcc-02

FCC-2, Business Contacts and Certifications

Unclassified.

47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154 (i)-(j) & (o), 155, 251(e)(3), 254, 257, 301, 303, 332, 402, 1302; and 5 U.S.C. 602(c) and 609(a)(3).

Contact information, such as name, username, signature, phone numbers, emails, and addresses, as well as work and educational history.

This is an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s network, USAC’s network, or on an FCC vendor’s network.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., first name or email address.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

88 FR 77580 (Nov. 13, 2023).

fcc-03

FCC-3, FCC Identity, Credentialing, and Access Management (ICAM).

Unclassified.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20554; Universal Service Administrative Company, 700 12th Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005; and FISMA compliant contractors and vendors.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC); and FISMA compliant contractors and vendors.

47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.; Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014, 44 U.S.C. 3551 et seq.

The FCC uses the systems that comprise this system of records to maintain an Active Directory of FCC staff and contractors who are authorized to access the FCC network; to monitor, log, and audit usage of the FCC’s network and information systems; to support server and desktop hardware and software; to ensure the availability and reliability of the FCC’s network and information systems; to help document and/or control access to the FCC’s network and information systems; to identify the need for and to conduct training programs, which can include the topics of information security; to monitor the security of the FCC’s network and information systems; to add and delete users; to investigate and make referrals for disciplinary or other action if improper or unauthorized use is suspected or detected; and to collect and maintain information necessary for FCC staff to perform key activities, including analyzing effectiveness and efficiency of FCC programs and informing rule-making and policy-making activity.

Commission employees, and employees of FCC contractors and administrators with access to the FCC network; individuals and representatives of entities that register to do business with the Commission; and members of the public who access the FCC’s public-facing information systems.

Contact information, such as name, username, password, phone numbers, email address, street address; network information, such as IP/MAC address, geolocation, web browser, timestamps, and activity logs.

Information in this system is provided by Commission employees and employees of FCC contractors and administrators with access to the FCC network; individuals and representatives of entities that register to do business with the Commission; members of the public who access the FCC’s public-facing information systems; vendors that provide DNS, CDN, cloud hosting, firewall, and related services; other FCC information systems that collect network information from users, including the FCC’s Financial Operations Information Systems.

1. Litigation—To disclose records to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation.

2. Adjudication—To disclose records in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation.

3. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order.

4. Congressional Inquiries—To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

5. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—To provide information to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

6. Breach Notification—To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information system, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

7. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

8. Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records to perform their activity.

This an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s network, USAC’s network, and FCC contractors’ and vendors’ networks.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., first name or email address.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) General Records Schedule GRS 3.2, Information Systems Security Records (DAA-GRS-2013-0006).

The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC, USAC, other program administrator, contractor, and vendor accreditation boundaries and maintained in databases housed on their network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized employees, staff and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC, USAC, and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

None.

/Central-1 Pay and Leave Records.

Associate Managing Director, Human Resources Management, Office of Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW, Room 1-B104, Washington, DC 20554. See FCC telephone directory for field office addresses.

Employees of the Federal Communications Commission.

This system contains various records, including Social Security Numbers, which are required to administer the pay and leave requirements of the Commission.

44 U.S.C. 3101, 3102, and 3309; 5 U.S.C. 6331-6340; Pub. L. 100-566, Leave Transfer Program; Executive Order 9397 (November 22, 1943), which authorizes the use of the Social Security Number; and Pub. L. 104-193, Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.

1. To authorize payroll deductions for allotments, savings bonds, charitable contributions, union dues, health benefits, and life insurance; collect indebtedness for overpayment of salary and unpaid Internal Revenue taxes; pay income tax obligations to Internal Revenue Service; authorize issuing of salary checks by Treasury Department; report gross wages and separation information for unemployment compensation; pay any uncollected compensation due a deceased employee; provide for a periodic summary of employee payroll data and retirement contributions; and determine eligibility for and/or authorize donations for the leave transfer program.

2. As a data source for management information for production of summary descriptive statistics and analytical studies in support of the function for which the records are collected and maintained, or for related personnel management functions or manpower studies; may also be utilized to respond to general requests for statistical information (without personal identification of individuals) under the Freedom of Information Act or to locate specific individuals for personnel research or other personnel management functions.

1. Where there is an indication of a violation or potential violation of a statute, regulation, rule, or order, records from this system may be referred to the appropriate federal, state, or local agency responsible for investigating or prosecuting a violation or for enforcing or implementing the statute, rule, regulation, or order.

2. A record from this system may be disclosed to request information from a federal, state, or local agency maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant information enforcement information or other pertinent information, such as licenses, if necessary to obtain information relevant to a Commission decision concerning the hiring or retention of an employee, the issuance of a security clearance, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant, or other benefit.

3. A record from this system may be disclosed to a Federal agency, in response to its request, in connection with the hiring or retention of an employee, the issuance of a security clearance, the reporting of an investigation of an employee, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant, or other benefit.

4. A record on an individual in this system of records may be disclosed to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry the individual has made to the Congressional office.

5. A record from this system of records may be disclosed to GAO and NARA for the purpose of records management inspections conducted under authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906. Such disclosure shall not be used to make a determination about individuals.

6. A record on an individual in this system of records may be disclosed, where pertinent, in any legal proceeding to which the Commission is a party before a court or administrative body.

7. A record from this system of records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice or in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body when:

(a) The United States, the Commission, a component of the Commission, or, when represented by the government, an employee of the Commission is a party to litigation or anticipated litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and

(b) The Commission determines that the disclosure is relevant or necessary to the litigation.

8. A record in this system of records may be disclosed to the Office of Personnel Management in order for it to carry out its legally authorized Government-wide functions and duties.

9. The names, social security numbers, home addresses, dates of birth, dates of hire, quarterly earnings, employer identifying information, and State of hire of employees may be disclosed to the Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services for the purposes of locating individuals to establish paternity, establishing and modifying orders of child support, identifying sources of income, and for other child support enforcement actions as required by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Welfare Reform Law, Pub. L 104-193).

In each of these cases, the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the record is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

Storage:

Records are maintained in an automated personnel and payroll system and in files in folders, cards, magnetic tapes, and loose leaf binders.

Records are indexed by name and social security number.

Records are maintained in filing cabinets in an office that is locked when not occupied by staff. Automated and manual records are available only to authorized personnel whose duties require access. Data resident on network servers are backed-up daily to magnetic media. One week’s worth of back-up tapes is stored on-site in fireproof saves. Each week, the previous week’s backup tapes are sent to an off-site storage location. A maximum of ten week’s tapes are kept and cycled in this fashion.

Records are maintained for varying periods of time from one year to permanently in accordance with General Records Schedules issued by the National Archives and Records Administration. Disposal is by shredding.

Associate Managing Director, Human Resources Management, Office of the Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW., Room 1-B104, Washington, DC 20554, or the appropriate administrative office in which the individual is employed.

Address inquiries to the system manager. It is necessary to furnish the following information in order to identify the individual whose records are requested: Full name; Date of Birth; Social Security Number; and Mailing address to which the reply should be mailed.

Address inquiries to the system manager. Requesters should reasonably specify the record contents being contested.

Information is provided by management officials and by the individuals on whom the record is maintained.

None.

/Central-6 Personal Investigation Records.

There is no specific security classification for this system; however, data or records within the system may have national defense/ foreign policy classifications up through secret.

Security Operations Center, Assistant Managing Director- Administrative Offices (AMD-AO), Office of Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW., Room 1-B458, Washington, DC 20554.

1. Current and former FCC employees, applicants for employment in the Federal service, and contractors.

2. Individuals considered for access to classified information or restricted areas and/or security determinations such as contractors, experts, instructors, and consultants to Federal programs.

3. Individuals who are neither applicants nor employees of the Federal Government, but who are or were involved in Federal programs under a co-operative agreement.

1. Data needed to identify an individual and his/her security clearance for both FCC and contract employees: Individual’s last, first, and middle names (filed alphabetically by last name); Social Security Number; date of birth; place of birth; Bureau/Office/ Contractor Company; position title; security classification; types and dates of investigations; agency conducting investigation, investigation dates, clearance level granted, and position sensitivity level; and remarks.

2. Data needed to investigate an individual’s character, conduct, and behavior in the community where he or she lives or lived; arrests and convictions for violations against the law; reports of interviews with present and former supervisors, co-workers, associates, educators, etc; reports about the individual’s qualifications for a position; reports of inquiries with law enforcement agencies, employers, and educational institutions attended; reports of action after OPM or FBI Section 8(d) Full Field Investigation; Notices of Security Investigation and other information developed from the above described Certificates of Clearance; and in some instances, a photograph of the subject.

3. Data to needed to investigate allegations of misconduct by an FCC employee;

4. Data needed to investigate miscellaneous complaints not covered by the FCC’s formal or informal grievance procedure; and

5. Data needed to conduct inquiries under the "President’s Program to Eliminate Waste and Fraud in Government."

6. Data needed to investigate violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, or other inappropriate behavior that causes an FCC employee or contractor to fear for his/her personal safety in the FCC workplace: case number; victim’s name; office telephone number; room number; organization bureau/office/division/branch; duty station; position; supervisor; supervisor’s telephone number; location of incident; activity at time of incident; circumstances surrounding the incident; perpetrator; name(s) and telephone number(s) of witness(es); injured party(s); medical treatment(s); medical report; property damages; report(s) to police and/or Federal Protective Services; and other miscellaneous information.

5 CFR part 5; 29 CFR part 1960; 47 CFR 19.735-107; 5 U.S.C. 1303, 1304, 3301, 7902; and Executive Orders 10450, 11222, 12065, and 12196.

FCC Security Officer and the Personnel Security Specialist of the Security Office use the records in this system to provide investigative information to determine compliance with Federal regulations and/or to make a determination about an individual’s suitability and fitness for Federal employment, access to classified information or restricted areas, position sensitivity, security clearances, evaluations of qualifications, and loyalty to the U.S.; to evaluate qualifications and suitability to perform contractual services for the U.S. Government; to document such determinations; to respond to an inquiry conducted under the President’s Program to Eliminate Waste and Fraud in the Government; to take action on, or to respond to a complaint about a threat, harassment, intimidation, violence, or other inappropriate behavior involving one or more FCC employees and/or contract employees; and to counsel employees.

1. A record from this system of records may be referred to the appropriate Federal, state, or local agency responsible for investigating or prosecuting a violation or for enforcing or implementing the statute, rule, regulation, or order where there is an indication of a violation or potential violation of a statute, regulation, rule, or order.

2. A record on an individual in this system of records may be disclosed to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry an individual has made to the Congressional office.

3. A record for this system of records maybe disclosed to GSA and NARA for the purpose of records management inspections conducted under authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906. Such disclosure shall not be used to make a determination about individuals.

4. A record on an individual in this system of records may be disclosed, where pertinent, in any legal proceeding to which the Commission is a party before a court or administrative body.

5. A record from this system may be disclosed to designated officers and employees of agencies, offices, and other establishments in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government, and the District of Columbia Government, in response to their request, when such agency, office, or establishment conducts an investigation of the individual for the purpose of hiring, firing, or retention, granting a security clearance, making a determination of qualifications, suitability, or loyalty to the United States Government, or access to classified information or restricted areas, or classifying jobs, letting of a contract, or issuance of a license, grant, or other benefit by the requesting agency, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the requesting agency’s purpose.

6. A record from this system of records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice or in a proceeding before a court or adjudicatory body when:

(a) The United States, the Commission, a component of the Commission, or when represented by the government, an employee of the Commission is a party to litigation or anticipated litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and

(b) The Commission determines that the disclosure is relevant or necessary to the litigation.

7. A record from this system may be disclosed to the security officers of an agency in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch, or the District of Columbia Government, in response to their request(s) for verification of security clearances of FCC employees to have access to classified data or areas where their official duties require such access.

8. A record in this system may be disclosed to request information from a Federal, state, or local agency maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant or pertinent enforcement information or records, such as licenses, if necessary to obtain information relevant to a Commission decision concerning the hiring or retention of an employee, the issuance of a security clearance, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a grant or other benefit.

9. A record from this system may be disclosed to the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) during the course of the MSPB’s investigation of the individual’s appeal, following the Commission’s adverse action against the individual.

In each of these cases, the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the records is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:

Not applicable.

STORAGE:

Records in this system of records include both paper and electronic records. Paper records are stored in file folders in security containers. The electronic records are maintained in a computer database.

Records are retrieved by individual’s name and Social Security Number.

Paper records are maintained in file folders and stored in approved security containers, within a secure, access-controlled area with an intrusion alarm. Access is limited to approved security office and administrative personnel.

The electronic records are maintained in a "stand-alone" computer database, which is secured through controlled access and passwords restricted to security and administrative personnel on a "need to know" basis. The computers are located in a room with a simplex lock and intrusive alarm systems. The computer databases are maintained on a computer that is not connected to the FCC computer network. The databases are backed-up on a daily basis to floppy disk(s), which are then stored in a secured area.

Both paper and electronic records are retained during employment or while an individual is actively involved in federal programs. As appropriate, records are returned to investigating agencies after employment terminates; otherwise, the records are retained for five years from the date that the employee leaves the Commission.

Investigative files and the computer database, which show the completion of an investigation, are retained for 15 years, except for investigations involving potential actionable issue(s), which will be maintained for 25 years plus the current year from the date of the most recent investigative activity.

Paper records are destroyed by shredding. Electronic records are destroyed by electronic erasure.

Security Office, Associate Managing Director--Administrative Operations (AMD-AO), Security Operations Center, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 1-B458, Washington, DC 20554.

This system is exempt from the requirement that the agency publish the procedures for notifying an individual, at his or her request, if the system contains a record pertaining to him/her, for gaining access to such record, and for contesting the contents of the record.

This system is exempt from the requirement that the agency publish the categories of sources of records in this system.

This system of records is exempt from sections (c)(3), (d), (e)(4)(G), (H), and (I), and (f) of the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, and from 47 CFR 0.554-0.557 of the Commission’s rules. These provisions concern the notification, record access, and contesting procedures described above, and also the publication of record sources. The system is exempt from these provisions because it contains the following types of information:

1. Investigative material compiled for law enforcement purposes as defined in Section (k)(2) of the Privacy Act.

2. Properly classified information, obtained from another Federal agency during the course of a personnel investigation, which pertains to national defense and foreign policy, as stated in Section (k)(1) of the Privacy Act.

3. Investigative material compiled solely for the purpose of determining suitability, eligibility, or qualifications for Federal civilian employment, as described in Section (k)(5) of the Privacy Act, as amended.

/Central-8 Telephone Call Detail and Equipment Loan Records.

Office of the Managing Director, Information Technology Center, Operations Group, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW., Room 1-C361, Washington, DC 20554.

1. This system of records contains information concerning the following actions:

(a) Individuals originating calls from FCC telephones and individuals receiving such calls;

(b) Individuals placing calls to or charging calls to FCC telephones (including cellular telephones);

(d) Individuals who are loaned electronic equipment to use when their work requires them to work outside the office or to maintain close contact with the Commission staff, i.e., laptops, pagers and cellular telephones.

2. The primary record subjects are current and former FCC employees, as well as individuals employed under any employment arrangement such as a contract or cooperative agreement; grantees; or other persons performing on behalf of the FCC.

3. Incidental to the coverage of the primary record subjects are non-employees who may be identified by telephone number during an inquiry or investigation relating to a potential improper or unofficial use of Government telephones or other illegal or improper activity by the primary record subject.

1. Records in the system of records related to telephone calls placed to and from FCC phones, and the assignment of telephone numbers to employees and the location of the telephone in the FCC. Since this system includes cellular telephones, any local call to or from a cellular telephone would be included.

2. The records may include such information as the number called from, the number called, time and date of the call, duration, disposition, and the cost of the call and/or charges accepted, and the FCC component to which the relevant telephone numbers are assigned.

3. The system may also include copies of related records, e.g., any periodic summaries which may have been compiled to reflect the total number of long distance calls.

4. The database(s) from which telephone numbers are retrieved contains the names of employees and their office locations, but no other personal identifiers such as social security numbers.

5. The CD-ROM files contain the agency telephone bills which provide details on all calls to and from the FCC telephones.

6. The paper files consist of a combination of the database and CD-ROM files.

7. Records in this system also include records of electronic equipment loaned to staff to use when their work requires them to work outside the office or to maintain close contact with the Commission staff, i.e., laptops, cellular telephones, and pagers.

8. These records would contain the following information:

(a) Individual’s name, FCC I.D. badge number, and Bureau/Office;

(b) Loaned equipment’s barcode number; serial number; model number; and modem number.

In each of these cases, the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the records is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

1. 44 U.S.C. 3101, which authorizes agencies to create and preserve records documenting agency organizations, functions, procedures, and transactions;

2. 31 U.S.C. 1348b., which authorizes the use of appropriated funds to pay for long distance calls only if required for official business or necessary in the interests of the Government;

3. 47 U.S.C. 154(I), which authorizes the FCC to take actions necessary to execute its functions;

4. 5 CFR 2635.704a., which prohibits use of Government property for other than authorized purposes; and

5. 41 CFR 201-21.601 and 201-21.602, which require that the Government telecommunications systems be used for official purposes only, and authorizing agencies to collect for unauthorized calls.

1. This system of records is used to keep track of local and long-distance telephone calls placed to and from FCC phones, including cellular telephones and the records of the equipment loaned out and those who have borrowed it.

2. The telephone records may include such information as the number called from, the number called, time and date of the call, duration, disposition, the cost of the call and/or charges accepted, and the FCC component to which the relevant telephone numbers are assigned. By maintaining these records, the FCC can monitor the charges for long distance or cellular calls and also determine if such calls are being made for other than Commission-related purposes.

3. When wireless instruments are loaned, the individual staff must sign the FCC Wireless Telecommunications Statement of Understanding and fill out FCC Form A-476, Custodial Receipt for Sensitive FCC Property when the equipment loan is made.

4. The equipment loan records include the type of equipment borrowed, the borrower, and the duration of the loan.

The FCC does not normally disclose records from this system of records. However, in the event it is appropriate, disclosure of relevant information may be made in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(b). Records and data may be disclosed as necessary pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(b):

1. A record in this system of records may be disclosed to a member of Congress or to a Congressional staff member in response to an inquiry of the Congressional office made at the written request of the constituent about whom the record is maintained;

2. A record in this system of records may be disclosed to representatives of the General Services Administration or the National Archives and Records Administration who are conducting records management inspections under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906;

3. A record in this system of records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when:

(a) The agency or any component thereof; or any employee of the agency in his or her official capacity where the DOJ has agreed to represent the employee; or

(b) The United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the agency determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation and the use of such records by the DOJ is therefore deemed by the agency to be for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

4. A record in this system of records may be disclosed to a court or adjudicative body in a proceeding when:

(a) The agency or any component thereof; any employee of the agency in his or her official capacity; or any employee of the agency in his or her official capacity where the agency has agreed to represent the employee; or

(b) The United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the agency determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation and the use of such records is therefore deemed by the agency to be for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

5. A record in this system of records may be disclosed to law enforcement agencies when a record on its fact, or in conjunction with other records, indicates a violation or potential violation of the law, whether civil, criminal, or regulatory in nature, and whether arising by general statute or particular program statute, or by regulation, rule, or order issued pursuant thereto, disclosure may be made to the appropriate agency, whether Federal, foreign, state, local, or tribal, or other public authority responsible for enforcing, investigating, or prosecuting such violation or charged with enforcing or implementing the statute, or rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant thereto, if the information disclosed is relevant to any enforcement, regulatory, investigative, or prospective responsibility of the receiving entity;

6. A record in this system of records may be disclosed to agency contractors, grantees, experts, consultants, or volunteers who have been engaged by the agency to assist in the performance of a service related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform the activity. Recipients shall be required to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a (m);

7. A record in this system of records may be disclosed to the National Finance Center (the FCC’s designated payroll office), the Department of the Treasury Debt Management Services and/or a current employer to effect a salary, IRS tax refund, or administrative offset to satisfy an indebtedness incurred for unofficial telephone and cellular calls; and to Federal agencies to identify and locate former employees for the purposes of collecting such indebtedness, including through administrative, salary, or tax refund offsets. Identifying and locating former employees, and the subsequent referral to such agencies for offset purposes, may be accomplished through authorized computer matching programs. Disclosures will be made only when all procedural steps established by the Debt Collection Act of 1982 and the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 or the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 as appropriate, have been taken;

8. A record in this system of records may be disclosed to a Federal, State, local, or foreign agency maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant enforcement records, or other pertinent records, or to another public authority or professional organization, if necessary to obtain information relevant to an investigation concerning the retention of an employee or other personnel action (other than hiring), the retention of a security clearance, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a grant, or other benefit; and

9. A record in this system of records may be disclosed to a Federal, State, local, foreign, or tribal or other information relevant to the retention of an employee, the retention of a security clearance, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a license, grant, or other benefit. The other agency or licensing organization may then make a request supported by the written consent of the individual for the entire record if it so chooses. No disclosure will be made unless the information has been determined to be sufficiently reliable to support a referral to another office within the agency or to another Federal agency for criminal, civil, administrative, personnel, or regulatory action.

In each of these cases, the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the records is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

Storage:

Records are maintained electronically in one of three databases (PCS, cellular telephones, and pagers), on paper, and on CD-ROM. The databases are password protected and updated daily. Authorized individuals can check the current databases during sign out when individuals leave the FCC to ensure that the departing staff has returned any loaned equipment.

Telephone call records are retrieved by bureau or office name, the employee name, name of recipient of telephone call, telephone number. Equipment loan records are retrieved by the employee name, equipment barcode number, serial number, and model or modem numbers.

Paper and CD-ROM records are maintained in file cabinets in offices which are locked at the end of the business day. Information in the database is secured through controlled access and passwords restricted to administrative office personnel. Data resident on network servers are backed-up daily to magnetic media. One week’s worth of back-up tapes is stored on-site in fireproof safes. Each week, the previous week’s backup tapes are sent to an off-site storage location. A maximum of ten week’s tapes are kept and cycled in this fashion.

Records are disposed of in accordance with General Records Schedule 12, National Archives and Records Administration.

Appropriate bureau or office chief and first line supervisors in the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. See FCC telephone directory for a list of field office telephone numbers or the commercial telephone directory under "U.S. Government."

Ask for "Records Access Procedures" in making inquiries regarding this system. The inquiries should be addressed to the system manager, Office of Managing Director, Information Technology Center, Operations Group, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.

Address inquiries to the system manager.

Telephone assignment records; call detail listings; results of administrative inquiries relating to assignment of responsibility for placement of specific long distance calls.

None.

/Central-9 Denial of Federal Benefits (Drug Debarment List).

Financial Operations Center, Associate Managing Director--Financial Operations (AMD-FO), Office of Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW., Room 1-A663, Washington, DC 20554.

Individuals convicted of offenses concerning the distribution or possession of controlled substances, who have been denied all Federal benefits or FCC benefits as part of their sentence pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, and who have also filed applications for any FCC professional or commercial license.

The records within this system will consist of a database provided to the FCC from the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding individuals who have been denied all Federal benefits or FCC benefits pursuant to section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.

1. The data elements to be used by the FCC are: DOJ identification number (ID) for the person denied Federal benefits, Person’s name, Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and Starting and ending date of the denial of Federal benefits.

2. All other data elements in the database will be immediately discarded.

3. When there is a match of name and TIN from the database with the name and address of an application on file with the FCC, the FCC will then obtain from DOJ additional data elements: Person’s name, address, and zip code. If also required by the FCC application, the person’s date of birth.

4. If manual comparison of the application information with the information obtained from DOJ confirms a match, the FCC will prepare a confirmation report to be attached to the application. The confirmation report will reflect the identifying information obtained from the DOJ debarment entry, but it will not include the DOJ ID number for that debarment entry. Upon such a match, the FCC will initiate correspondence with the applicant, which will also be associated with the application. The confirmation report and any correspondence with the applicant will be among the records found in this system.

Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100-690, as amended by section 1002(d) of the Crime Control Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-647 (21 U.S.C. 862), and sections 4(i) and 4(j) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 154(j)).

The records within the system will be used for the exchange of information between DOJ and the FCC in connection with the implementation of section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. This exchange of information permits the FCC to perform the General Services Administration (GSA) Debarment List check as provided for in the Office of National Drug Control Policy plan for implementation of section 5301 through use of information generated by DOJ. The automated records obtained from DOJ will only be used by the FCC to make an initial determination of whether an individual applicant is subject to a denial of all Federal benefits or FCC benefits imposed under section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.

This system contains the following information: Department of Justice database provided to the FCC; the database retained by the FCC for use in the automated system; and the match reports; and any copies of the confirmation report that include the Department of Justice ID number will be routinely available for use or inspection by appropriate FCC officials.

The confirmation report (not including the DOJ ID Number) and any correspondence with the applicant will be associated with the applicant’s application and will thus be made routinely available for public inspection.

In each case the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the records is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

Storage:

Records are maintained electronically on a computer database.

Records are retrieved by supplying the following information: Name of applicant, TIN, address (in some instances) and zip code, date of birth (in some instances), and FCC fee control number for the application.

The data are provided to the FCC by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and will be protected from tampering, unauthorized disclosure, and will follow these procedures:

1. The database will be processed to extract the information to be used in the automated system, and the data elements not being used in the automated system will be electronically erased. The remaining data will be maintained at the main FCC building with a low risk of unauthorized access.

2. Access points are photo-monitored by security personnel; all employees are required to display photo ID badges; and all visitors must register and wear a visitor’s badge. Access to the computer system on which the extracted database is stored requires use of a unique user ID with personal identifier, which is controlled through application and operating system security.

3. The extracted database is stored in a separate file in that system, and a separate password is required for entry to that file. The password is available to a limited number of persons based strictly on a "need to know" basis.

4. The reports of any automated matches containing the DOJ ID number will be made available only to the appropriate FCC officials.

1. The match reports will be retained by the FCC for only as long as it is necessary to obtain the debarment entry information and corresponding application for manual confirmation of the match. Thereafter, they will be destroyed. However, periodically, a match report will be randomly retained for a period of an additional 90 to 120 days to provide a quality check of the verification process.

2. Where the verification process establish that a match does not indicate that the applicant has been denied Federal benefits under section 5301, the debarment entry information used in that determination will be retained by the FCC for 30 days after the application has cleared the debarment check. However, as noted above, debarment entry information relating to match reports that are retained for quality control purposes will be retained until that quality check is completed.

3. Where a match is confirmed by the manual verification process, the debarment entry information will be retained for a period of at least 90 days after the date of the letter referred to above. If the application contests the determination that a section 5301 denial of Federal benefits bars a grant of the application, the debarment entry information will be retained until such time as the FCC’s action on the application is no longer subject to review in any court.

Associate Managing Director-Financial Operations (AMD-FO), Managing Director, Office of Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.

Address inquiries to the AMD-FO.

Individuals making applications who have been convicted of certain drug offenses and who have been denied all Federal benefits or FCC benefits as part of their sentence.

None.

/Central-10 Access Control System.

Office of the Managing Director, Security Operations Center, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW., Room 1-B458, Washington, DC 20554.

Current FCC employees, current contractors, frequent visitors, visitors, temporary hires, special parking access and day contractor.

The system consists of computer databases, with all records containing the last and first name, filed alphabetically by last name, with a corresponding Badge Number.

1. The FCC employee/temporary hire database will include: First and last name, Telephone number, Bureau/Office, (Supervisor--delete), Room number, Date of issuance, and Parking (permit--delete) privilege (number--delete), if applicable, and property pass privilege if applicable.

2. The contractor database will include: First and last name, Contractor company name, Telephone number, FCC point of contact, Telephone number, and Date of issuance.

3. The Frequent Visitor’s database will include: First and last name, Employer’s name, Address, Telephone number, Point of contact at the employer, and Date of issuance.

4. The Visitor/day contractor database will include: First and last name along with numerical identifier.

5. The Special Parking Access database will include: First and last name, Telephone number, Employer, and Date of issuance.

Note: Proof of identity required through photographic identification is necessary prior to issuance of the contractor badge and the frequent visitor’s badge and visitor’s badge.

Presidential Directive based on Department of Justice report entitled "Vulnerability Assessment of Federal Facilities."

This system provides a method by which the FCC can control and account for all persons entering the Commission’s facilities and by which the FCC may ascertain the times persons were in these facilities.

1. Where there is an indication of a violation or potential of a statute, regulation, rule, or order, records from this system may be referred to the appropriate Federal, state, or local agency responsible for investigating or prosecuting a violation or for enforcing or implementing the statute, rule, regulation, or order.

2. A record from this system may be disclosed to a request for information from a Federal, state, or local agency maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant information or other pertinent information if necessary to obtain information relevant to an investigation.

3. A record on an individual in this system of records may be disclosed to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry the individual has made to the Congressional office.

4. A record from this system of records may be disclosed to GSA and NARA for the purpose of records management inspections conducted under authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906. Such disclosure shall not be used to make a determination about individuals.

5. Records from this system may be disclosed to FCC supervisors or management representatives to ascertain (either confirm or refute) the times employees were in the facility.

In each of these cases the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the records is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

Records are maintained in a password protected computer database.

Records are retrieved by the name of the individual on whom they are maintained by a limited number of authorized individuals.

The computer terminals are stored within a secured area. The Security Office staff performs a backup operation on these files on a weekly--monthly basis on '1/4 data cartridge, which are stored/safeguarded in the Security Office.

1. When an employee/contractor/temporary hire/special parking access leaves the FCC, the file in the database is deleted.

2. Frequent visitor badges are given a two-year valid period, after which the card will automatically deactivate.

3. All returned visitor/day contractor cards will be reused on a daily basis.

4. Transaction data for all cards will be placed on backup discs and stored for one year in the FCC Security Office which is locked and alarmed.

Security Operations Center, Office of Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW., Room 1-B458, Washington, DC 20554.

Individuals wishing to inquire whether this system of records contains information about them should contact the system manager indicated above. Individuals must furnish their "Full Name" for their records to be located and identified.

Individuals wishing to request access to records about them should contact the system manager indicated above. Individuals must furnish their "Full Name" for their record to be located and identified. An individual requesting access must also follow FCC Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identify and access to records. See 47 CFR 0.554-0.555.

Individuals wishing to request amendment of their records should contact the system manager indicated above. Individuals must furnish their "Full Name" for their record to be located and identified. An individual requesting amendment must also follow the FCC Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity and amendment of records. See 47 CFR 0.556-0.557.

The individual to whom the information applies.

None.

/Central-11 Inter-office (GroupWise) and Internet E-mail Systems.

Information Technology Center, Office of the Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW., Room 1-C266, Washington, DC 20554.

Employees and contractors of the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, DC and the field offices.

Records in this system of records include the names, e-mail addresses, and passwords of all FCC employees and contractors.

1. Executive Orders 10450 and 12065;

2. 44 U.S.C. 3101, which authorizes agencies to create and preserve records documenting agency organizations, functions, procedures, and transactions;

3. 47 U.S.C. 154(i), which authorizes the FCC to take actions necessary to execute its functions;

4. 5 CFR 2635.704a., which prohibits use of Government property for other than authorized purposes; and

5. 41 CFR 201-21.601 and 201-21.602, which require that the Government Radio systems be used for official purposes only.

These records are maintained by the Information Technology Center staff to identify all users on the FCC’s Inter-office and Internet E-mail systems, their locations, and their passwords. This information is necessary to insure that all users abide by the FCC’s Intranet and Internet regulations and to identify possible abusers.

Information in this system of records may be disclosed for the following reasons:

1. For disclosure to a Federal agency or the District of Columbia Government, in response to its request, in connection with the hiring or retention of an employee, the issuance of a security clearance, the conducting of a security or suitability investigation of an individual, the classifying of jobs, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant, or other benefit by the requesting agency.

2. For disclosure to the security officer of an agency in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch, or the District of Columbia Government, in response to its request for verification of security clearances, of FCC employees/contractors to have access to classified data or areas where their official duties require such access.

3. Where there is an indication or a violation or potential violation of a statute, regulation, rule, order may be referred to the appropriate Federal, state, or local agency responsible for investigating or prosecuting a violation or for enforcing or implementing the statute, rule, regulation or order.

4. A record from this system may be disclosure to request information from a Federal, state, local or foreign agency maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant enforcement information, or other pertinent information records, or to another public authority or professional organization, if necessary to obtain information relevant to an investigation concerning the retention of an employee or other personnel action (other than hiring), the retention of a security clearance, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a grant or other benefit.

5. A record on an individual in this system of records may be disclosed to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry the individual has made to a Congressional office.

6. A record from this system of records may be disclosed to GSA and NARA for the purpose of records management inspections conducted under authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906. Such disclosure shall not be used to make a determination about individuals.

In each of these cases, the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the records is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

Records are maintained in an electronic database.

Records are retrieved by bureau or office name and the employee name and log-in name.

Information in the database is secured through controlled access and passwords restricted to administrative office personnel. Data resident on network servers are backed-up daily to magnetic media. One week’s worth of back-up tapes is stored on-site in fireproof safes. Each week, the previous week’s backup tapes are sent to an off-site storage location. A maximum of ten week’s tapes are kept and cycled in this fashion.

Records are until the employee or contract retires or leaves the FCC. The records are then disposed of in accordance with General Records Schedule 12, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

Operations Group, Office of Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW., Room 1-C734, Washington, DC 20554.

Same as above.

None.

/CIB-1 Informal Complaints, Inquiries, and Requests for Dispute Assistance.

The FCC’s Security Operations Center (SOC) has not assigned a security classification to this system of records.

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554 and 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325.

The categories of individuals in this system include individuals, groups, and other entities who make or have made informal complaints, inquiries, or requests for dispute assistance on matters arising under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the Rehabilitation Act.

The categories of records in this system include both computerized information contained in a database and paper copies of inquiries, requests for dispute assistance, informal complaints, and related supporting information made by individuals, groups, or other entities; and company replies to complaints, requests, inquiries, and Commission letters regarding such complaints, requests, and inquiries.

The categories of records may also include submissions that individuals, groups, or other entities make, including, but not limited to, submissions made by letter, fax, telephone, e-mail, and via the FCC web portal at www.fcc.gov.

Sections 1, 4, 206, 208, 225, 226, 227, 228, 255, 258, 301, 303, 309(e), 312, 362, 364, 386, 507, 710, 713, 716, 717, and 718 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154, 206, 208, 225, 226, 227, 228, 255, 258, 301, 303, 309(e), 312, 362, 364, 386, 507, 610, 613, 617, 618, and 619; Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. 794 and 794d; and 47 CFR 0.111, 0.141, 1.711 et seq., 14.30 et seq., 20.19, 64.604, 68.414 et seq., and 79.1 et seq.

The records in this system are used by Commission personnel to handle and process informal complaints, inquiries, and requests for dispute assistance received from individuals, groups, and other entities. Records in this system are available for public inspection after redaction of information that could identify the complainant or correspondent, such as the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, fax number, and/or e-mail address.

Information about individuals in this system of records may routinely be disclosed under the following conditions:

1. Informal Complaints – When a record in this system involves an informal complaint filed against telecommunications providers, broadcasters, multi-channel video program distributors, voice-over-internet-protocol providers, and/or wireless providers, the complaint may be forwarded to the subject company for a response, pursuant to Sections 4(i), 208, and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

2. Informal Complaints, Inquiries, and Requests for Dispute Assistance about Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities – When a record in this system involves an informal complaint, inquiry, or request for dispute assistance involving or filed against a company (including telecommunications and advanced communications service providers and equipment manufacturers; video programming owners, providers, and distributors, including broadcasters and multichannel video programming distributors; and manufacturers of apparatus used to receive, play back, or record video programming) about accessibility for individuals with disabilities, the inquiry, request, or informal complaint may be forwarded to the subject company for a response, pursuant to Section 4(i), 208, and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

3. FCC Enforcement Actions – When an order or other Commission-issued document that includes consideration of informal complaints filed against telecommunications providers, broadcasters, multi-channel video program distributors, voice-over-internet-protocol providers, and/or wireless providers is entered by the FCC to implement or enforce the Communications Act, pertinent rule, regulation, or order of the FCC, the complainant’s name may be made public in that order or document. When an order or other Commission-issued document that includes consideration of an informal complaint about accessibility for individuals with disabilities filed against a company (including telecommunications and advanced communications service providers and equipment manufacturers; video programming owners, providers, and distributors, including broadcasters and multichannel video programming distributors; and manufacturers of apparatus used to receive, play back, or record video programming) is entered or released by the FCC to implement or enforce the Communications Act, pertinent rule, regulation, or order of the FCC, the complainant’s name may be made public in that order or document. Where a complainant in filing his or her complaint explicitly requests confidentiality of his or her name from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that the request impedes the Commission’s ability to investigate and/or resolve the complaint.

4. Law Enforcement and Investigation – Where there is an indication of a violation or potential violation of a statute, regulation, rule, or order, records from this system may be referred to the appropriate Federal, state, Tribal, or local agency either for purposes of obtaining additional information relevant to a FCC decision or for referring the record for investigation, enforcement, or prosecution by another agency.

5. Adjudication and Litigation – Where by careful review, the Commission determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to litigation and the use of such records is deemed by the Commission to be for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the Commission collected the records, these records may be used by a court or adjudicative body in a proceeding when: (a) the Commission or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the Commission in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the Commission in his or her individual capacity where the Commission has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation.

6. Department of Justice – A record from this system of records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice or in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body when:

(a) the United States, the Commission, a component of the Commission, or, when represented by the government, an employee of the Commission is a party to litigation or anticipated litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and

(b) the Commission determines that the disclosure is relevant or necessary to the litigation.

7. Congressional Inquiries – When requested by a congressional office in response to an inquiry by an individual made to the congressional office for the individual’s own records.

8. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – When requested by the General Services Administration (GSA), the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), and/or the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for the purpose of records management inspections conducted under authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906 (such disclosure(s) shall not be used to make a determination about individuals); when the Department of Justice (DOJ) is contacted in order to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is contacted in order to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

9. Breach of Federal Data – A record from this system may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when (1) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that the security or confidentiality of information in the system of records has been compromised; (2) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to economic or property interests, identity theft or fraud, or harm to the security or integrity of this system or other systems or programs (whether maintained by the Commission or another agency or entity) that rely upon the compromised information; and (3) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed compromise and prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

In each of these cases, the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the records is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

Disclosure to consumer reporting agencies:

None.

Storage:

The Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau staff logs consumer informal complaints, inquiries, and requests for dispute assistance that it receives into its Complaint and Inquiry Management System (CIMS), Consolidated Complaint Management System (CCMS), and other electronic databases and network databases not specifically named here that are used to store consumer informal complaints and inquiries, including requests for dispute assistance. Each request for dispute assistance and informal complaint submission is automatically assigned a file identification number for future reference when the case is entered into one of the databases. This identification number tracks consumer submissions and assists with identification of duplicate filings, which occur when consumers file multiple submissions. Confidential paper submissions are moved to a locked storage room for safekeeping.

All records are kept in accordance with the agency records control schedule approved by NARA.

Information in this system, including, but not limited to records, files, and data, may be retrieved by the individual's personal identifiers (such as the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, fax number, and/or e-mail address), entity name, program name, date received and date closed, problem description field, and/or call sign.

Electronic records that emanate from these informal complaint, inquiry submissions, and requests for dispute assistance are maintained in CIMS, CCMS, or other electronic and network computer databases not specifically named here, which are secured through controlled access and passwords restricted to a limited number of FCC employees or contractors working on informal complaints, inquiries, and requests for dispute assistance. These various safeguards comply with the FCC’s IT security and privacy protocols. In addition, as an added security measure, the staff in the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Enforcement Bureau, and other FCC bureaus and offices who are assigned responsibility for resolution of these records in CIMS are only allowed access to these records via a "license" that also tracks their use of the records. Confidential paper submissions are moved to a locked storage room for safekeeping.

The information in this system is limited to electronic data, paper files, and audio files, such as telephone call records. The information is retained at the FCC and then destroyed in accordance with the agency records control schedule N1-173-07-1, approved by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which generally requires that source records are destroyed three years after data are entered into the system, and records in the master file are destroyed three years after the case is closed.

Address inquiries to the Privacy Analyst, Office of Managing Director or Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.

An individual requesting access must follow FCC Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity and amendment of records. See 47 CFR 0.554-0.557.

Address inquiries to the Privacy Analyst, Office of Managing Director or Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.

The sources for the information in this system include the complainants and subject entities.

None.

/CGB-1

FCC/CGB-1, Informal Complaints, Inquiries, and Requests for Dispute Assistance.

Unclassified.

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

CGB, FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

Sections 1, 4, 206, 208, 225, 226, 227, 228, 255, 258, 301, 303, 309(e), 312, 362, 364, 386, 507, 710, 713, 716, 717, 718, and 1754 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154, 206, 208, 225, 226, 227, 228, 255, 258, 301, 303, 309(e), 312, 362, 364, 386, 507, 610, 613, 617, 618, 619, and 1754; sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. 794 and 794d; and 47 CFR 0.111, 0.141, 1.711 et seq., 14.30 et seq., 20.19, 64.604, 68.414 et seq., 79.1 et seq, and 16.1-16.7.

This system will collect from individuals, groups, and other entities informal complaints, inquiries, and requests for dispute assistance and related supporting materials; company replies to informal consumer complaints, requests, inquiries, and Commission letters regarding such complaints, requests, and inquiries; and other submissions made by individuals, groups, or other entities. Collecting and maintaining these types of information allow staff access to documents necessary for key activities discussed in this SORN, including processing informal complaints, inquiries, and requests for dispute assistance; analyzing effectiveness and efficiency of related FCC programs and informing future rule- and policy-making activity; and improving staff efficiency. Records in this system are available for public inspection, after redaction of information that could identify the complainant or correspondent, including the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, fax number, and/or email address.

Individuals and individual representatives of groups or other entities who make or have made, or are responding to, informal consumer complaints, inquiries, or requests for dispute assistance, as well as Commission letters regarding such complaints, requests, and inquiries on matters arising under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the Rehabilitation Act.

Computerized information contained in the system including inquiries, requests for dispute assistance, informal consumer complaints, and related supporting information, including personal contact information or other identifying information provided by individuals, groups, or other entities, which may include voluntarily provided demographic information; company replies, including contact information, to informal consumer complaints, requests, inquiries, and Commission letters regarding such complaints, requests, and inquiries; and submissions that individuals, groups, or other entities make, including, but not limited to, submissions made by letter, fax, telephone, email, and via the FCC web portal for consumer complaints.

Information in this system is provided by individuals, groups, and other entities who make or have made, or are responding to, informal consumer complaints, inquiries, or requests for dispute assistance, as well as Commission letters regarding such complaints, requests, and inquiries on matters arising under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the Rehabilitation Act.

1. Informal Consumer Complaints—When a record in this system involves an informal consumer complaint filed against a service provider (e.g., broadband, telecommunications, broadcast, multi-channel video program, Voice over Internet-Protocol (VoIP), etc.), the complaint may be forwarded to the subject company for a response, pursuant to sections 4(i), 208, and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

2. Informal Complaints, Inquiries, and Requests for Dispute Assistance about Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities—When a record in this system involves an informal complaint, inquiry, or request for dispute assistance involving or filed against a company about accessibility for individuals with disabilities, the inquiry, request, or informal complaint may be forwarded to the subject company for a response, pursuant to section 4(i), 208, and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

3. Public Disclosure—When an order or other published Bureau- or Commission-level action (including Notices of Proposed Rulemaking, Reports and Orders, Notices of Apparent Liability, Forfeiture Orders, Consent Agreements, Notice Letters, or all other actions released by a Bureau or the Commission) includes consideration of informal complaints (including informal complaints related to accessibility for individuals with disabilities) filed against a company, the complainant’s name may be made public in that order or Commission action. Where a complainant in filing his or her complaint explicitly requests confidentiality of his or her name from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that the request impedes the Commission’s ability to investigate and/or resolve the complaint.

4. Public Disclosure of Anonymized Complaint Data—The Commission will make publicly available anonymized or otherwise de-identified complaint data in order to promote transparency and empower third parties to assist the Commission in identifying trends.

5. Law Enforcement and Investigation—To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal agency, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

6. Litigation—To disclose records to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

7. Adjudication—To disclose records in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

8. Congressional Inquiries—To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from the Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

9. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—To provide information to the DOJ to obtain the department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

10. Breach Notification—To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) maintained in the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

11. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

12. Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, FCC program administrators (including USAC), other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records to perform their activity.

This is a cloud-based computing system that utilizes the provider-supported application on the provider’s cloud network (Software as a Service or SaaS).

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., first or last name or email address.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the NARA General Records Schedule 6.5, Item 020 (DAA–0173–2019–0002).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records contains information about themselves may do so by writing to privacy@fcc.gov. Individuals requesting access or amendment of records must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity as required under 47 CFR part 0, subpart E.

None.

88 FR 60459 (September 1, 2023).

/CGB-3

FCC/CGB–3, National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP).

Unclassified.

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB), FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

CGB, FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

47 U.S.C. 154, 201, 218, 222, 225, 226, 228, 254(k), and 620; Telecommunications Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 014-104, 110 Stat. 56; Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, as amended, Pub. L. No. 111-265, 124 Stat 2795.

This system collects records submitted by the certified equipment distribution program in each state, as required by the NDBEDP, to maintain each state’s certification to participate in this program. Collecting and maintaining the required types of information allows staff access to documents necessary for key activities discussed in this SORN, including maintaining information regarding certified program participants; analyzing effectiveness and efficiency of this and related FCC programs; informing future rule and policy-making activity; and improving staff efficiency. Records in this system are available for public inspection, e.g., in response to requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), after redaction of information that could identify a complainant or correspondent, such as the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, fax number, and/or email address.

1. Individuals who request or receive the NDBEDP equipment;

2. Individuals who attest to the disability of the individual receiving the NDBEDP equipment and/or matters related to the eligibility requirements, qualifications, and regulations, etc., for those seeking to participate in the NDBEDP;

3. Individuals who may file complaints, and parties named in or involved with the complaint, including, but not limited to, both formal and informal complaints, and inquiries on behalf of themselves or NDBEDP participants and matters related to NDBEDP rules and regulations; and

4. Certain non-Federal personnel performing services or activities related to this system of records, including, but not limited to, representatives of equipment distribution programs.

1. The name and contact information, including street address, email address, and phone number for the individuals requesting or receiving the NDBEDP equipment;

2. The name and contact information, including street and email addresses, phone number(s), and fax number(s) for the individuals attesting to the disability of the individual who is deaf-blind;

3. Other miscellaneous PII related to the individuals who participate in this program, e.g., response data for equipment requests, users’ complaints, evaluation of the users’ needs, user training data, outreach activities, equipment request denial data, and medical attestations or records regarding disability qualifications and eligibility requirements;

4. The name and contact information, including street and email addresses, phone number(s), and fax number(s) for certain non-Federal personnel performing services or activities related to this system of records, including, but not limited to, representatives of equipment distribution programs;

5.The name and contact information, including street and email addresses, phone number(s), and fax number(s) for individuals who make or have made formal and informal complaints and inquiries (including related supporting information), and parties named in or involved with the complaint or inquiry, in any format (including but not limited to paper, telephone, TTY, recording, Braille, and electronic submissions, such as email, Internet, etc.) on behalf of themselves or NDBEDP participants; and

6. Commission correspondence, e.g., letters and related communications regarding formal and informal complaints and inquiries (which may include PII and related information) that pertain to the NDBEDP programs, NDBEDP participants, involved parties, and the certification and participation of each entity approved by the Commission to participate in the NDBEDP.

Information in this system is provided by individuals who request or receive the NDBEDP equipment; individuals, groups, and other entities who attest to the disability of the individual requesting or receiving the equipment; and other individuals, groups, and other entities who have a connection to the NDBEDP and its participants, e.g., those filing or involved with formal and informal complaints or inquiries on behalf of the participants or otherwise performing services or activities related to this system of records

Information about individuals in this system of records may routinely be disclosed under the following conditions:

1. Formal or Informal Complaints—When a record in this system involves a formal or informal complaint, and/or inquiry filed against an NDBEDP certified program and related entities, the complaint or inquiry may be forwarded to the subject certified program for that state, the appropriate State and Federal medical boards, certifying associations, and related groups, and personal physicians (who may determine whether an individual meets the eligibility criteria for participation in the NDBEDP) for a response.

2. Medical Records—A medical attestation or record (including but not limited to third-party attestations, certifications, and declarations of disability) from this system may be disclosed to appropriate entities, including, but not limited to, the subject certified program for that state, the appropriate State and Federal medical boards, certifying associations, and related groups, and personal physicians for the purposes of determining whether an individual meets the eligibility criteria of being deaf-blind required to participate in the NDBEDP.

3. Income Eligibility Records—A record from this system may be disclosed to appropriate entities, including but not limited to the subject certified program for that state, as well as the appropriate State and Federal certifying boards and authorities, for the purposes of determining whether an individual meets the income eligibility criteria required to participate in the NDBEDP.

4. Law Enforcement and Investigation—To disclose pertinent information to appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, or local agencies, authorities, and officials responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, order, or other requirement when the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal statute, law, regulation, order, or other requirement.

5. Litigation—To disclose records to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the Department of Justice is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

6. Adjudication—To disclose records in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

7. Congressional Inquiries—To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

8. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—To DOJ to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

9. Breach Notification—To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of PII maintained in the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information system, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

10. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

11. Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

This electronic system of records resides on the FCC’s network or on an FCC vendor’s network.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., the individual’s contact information, including the individual’s name(s), street address, email address(es), landline phone and cell phone number(s), complainant(s), and description fields.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) General Records Schedule DAA–0173–2017–0002.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

None.

77 FR 2721 (January 19, 2012).

/CGB-4

FCC/CGB–4, Internet-based Telecommunications Relay Service-User Registration Database (ITRS-URD).

Unclassified.

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB), FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

CGB, FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

47 U.S.C. 141-154, 225, 255, 303(r), 616, and 620.

This system collects and maintains:

1. Information that is used to determine whether an individual who is applying for a TRS program is eligible to register for the program;

2. Information that the ITRS-URD administrator uses to determine whether information with respect to registered users already in the ITRS-URD is correct and complete;

3. Information that the ITRS-URD administrator uses or will use in a system for automated validation of the registration information that has been submitted and ensure that the authorized VRS and IP CTS providers are unable to register individuals who do not pass the identification verification check conducted through the ITRS-URD;

4. Information that VRS and IP CTS providers must request to validate each individual who seeks to register that he/she is an actual person living or visiting in the United States;

5. Information related to users signed up with multiple providers for VRS or IP CTS; and

6. Information that is contained in the records of the inquiries that VRS and IP CTS providers will make available to the ITRS-URD administrator and its contractors and subcontractors who manages the database (providing verification/call/service center(s) services) to verify that individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities and who are eligible under the ADA to participate in ITRS programs.

Collecting and maintaining these types of information allows staff access to documents necessary for key activities discussed in this SORN, including verifying the eligibility of individuals to participate in ITRS programs; analyzing effectiveness and efficiency of related FCC programs and informing future rule-making and policy-making activity; and improving staff efficiency. Records in this system are available for public inspection, e.g., in response to requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), after redaction of identifying information such as a name, address, telephone number, fax number, and/or email address.

Individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities, and who are eligible under the ADA to register for one or more of the ITRS program's multiple services; representatives of certified ITRS Program providers; individuals who are registered and currently receiving ITRS Program services; and/or individuals who are minors whose status makes them eligible for a parent or guardian to register them for ITRS program services.

Electronic records regarding ITRS participants, subscribers, and applicants, including their full names (first, middle, and last names); the names of parents or guardians; full residential addresses; dates of birth; last four digits of social security numbers (SSNs) or Tribal identification numbers (or alternative proof of identification for those who do not have an SSN or Tribal identification number); ten digit telephone number(s) assigned in the TRS number directory and associated uniform resource identifier (URI) information; users’ registered location information for emergency calling purposes; eligibility certifications (digital copy) for ITRS program’s service(s) and date obtained from provider; users’ VRS or IP CTS initiation dates and (when applicable) termination dates; date on which user last placed a point-to-point or relay call.

Information in this system is provided by individuals, or by parents or guardians of minor individuals, who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities to determine their eligibility for ITRS programs; and by ITRS program providers for registration of subscribers, participants, and applicants, and/or their re-certification in ITRS programs.

1. FCC Program Management—A record from this system may be accessed and used by the ITRS-URD Administrator and disclosed to third-party contractor’s employees (including employees of subcontractors) to conduct official duties associated with the administration, management, and operation of the ITRS programs, as directed by the Commission. Such duties include conducting the verification process that allows the ITRS-URD administrator to determine the accuracy of the PII provided by or regarding participants, subscribers, and applicants to the system of records, i.e., when an employee of a third-party contractor (and/or subcontractor), responsible for management registration and fraud prevention, verifies the eligibility of the participant, registrant, or subscriber.

2. Prevention of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Disclosure—Records may be disclosed to Federal agencies, non-Federal entities, their employees, and agents (including contractors, their agents or employees; employees or contractors of the agents or designated agents); or contractors, their employees or agents with whom the FCC has a contract, service agreement, cooperative agreement, or computer matching agreements for the purposes of managing and/or eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in the ITRS programs, including as necessary for, among other things, audits, oversight, and or investigations.

3. Department of Treasury—Records may be disclosed to the U.S. Department of the Treasury when disclosure of the information is relevant to review payment and award eligibility through the Do Not Pay Working System for the purposes of identifying, preventing, or recouping improper payments to an applicant for, or recipient of, Federal funds, including funds disbursed by a state (meaning a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a federally recognized Indian tribe) in a state-administered, federally funded program.

4. ADA Eligibility Verification Data—A record from this system may be disclosed to the appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, or local authorities (including transfers of PII data to/from the ITRS-URD Administrator, contractors, and subcontractors, as required) for the purposes of verifying whether individuals who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities are eligible under the ADA to register to participate in/subscribe to ITRS programs;

5. State or Tribal Agencies and Authorized Entities—A record from this system may be disclosed to designated State or Tribal agencies and other authorized entities, which include, but are not limited to state public utility commissions, and their agents, as is consistent with applicable Federal and State laws, to administer TRS or ITRS (as applicable) programs in that state and to perform other management and oversight duties and responsibilities, including determining eligibility for TRS or ITRS programs.

6. FCC Enforcement Actions—When a record in this system involves an informal complaint filed with the FCC alleging a violation of FCC rules, regulations, orders, or requirements by an ITRS applicant, subscriber, participant, licensee, certified or regulated entity/provider, or an unlicensed person or entity, the complaint may be served to the alleged violator for a response through the FCC’s normal complaint-handling process. When an order or other Commission-issued document that includes consideration of an informal complaint or complaints is issued by the FCC for resolution or enforcement, the complainant’s name may be made public in that order or letter document. Where a complainant in filing his or her complaint explicitly requests that confidentiality of his or her name from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that the request impedes the Commission’s ability to investigate and/or resolve the complaint.

7. Congressional Inquiries—Information may be provided to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of the individual to whom the information pertains.

8. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to OMB to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

9. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, local, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order.

10. Litigation—Records may be disclosed to DOJ when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

11. Adjudication—Records may be disclosed in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

12. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission's efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

13. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

14. Non-Federal Personnel—Records may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

This system contains electronic records, files, and data. The ITRS-URD Program Administrator will host the electronic data, which will reside in the administrator’s ITRS-URD Program’s database(s) and in the databases of third-party contractors and subcontractors who conduct the subscribers/participants’ verification processes.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., first or last name or email address.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with NARA records schedule "Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)," Records Schedule Number DAA-0173-2015-0006.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

88 FR 60455 (Sept. 1, 2023).

/EB-5 Enforcement Bureau Activity Tracking System (EBATS).

No information in the system is classified.

Enforcement Bureau (EB), FCC, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554; and FCC Field Offices that may maintain paper documents on an ad hoc, temporary basis when needed to resolve enforcement cases in their jurisdictions.

Enforcement Bureau (EB), FCC, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

47 U.S.C. 101, 102, 104, 301, 303, 309(e), 312, 315, 318, 362, 364, 386, 501, 502, 503, 507, and 510.

The Enforcement Bureau uses the information in this system for purposes that include, but are not limited to:

1. Maintaining documents and tracking the status of enforcement investigations of entities (including individuals) that have been identified as possible violators of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, FCC regulations, other FCC requirements or orders, other statutes and regulations subject to the FCC’s jurisdiction, and/or international treaties (collectively referred to hereafter as FCC Rules and Regulations);

2. Maintaining documents and tracking the status of formal complaints, including, but not limited to those that involve market disputes;

3. Determining the levels of compliance among FCC licensees and other regulatees;

4. Documenting the Commission’s monitoring, overseeing, auditing, inspecting, and investigating for compliance and enforcement purposes;

5. Providing a basis for the various administrative and civil or criminal actions against violators by EB, other appropriate Commission bureaus or offices, and/or other government agencies;

6. Gathering background information for reference materials from various external sources that include, but are not limited to, databases, documents, files, and other related resources, to ensure that the information that is being compiled is accurate and up-to-date (cross-checking) in the course of investigating consumer complaints and/or enforcement investigations;

7. Maintaining archival information (paper documents and files) for reference in enforcement investigations and other actions; and

8. Preventing duplication of FCC’s enforcement actions, e.g., for cross-reference purposes, etc.

The records in this system include, but are not limited to:

1. Individuals, including FCC employees, who have filed complaints alleging violations of FCC Rules and Regulations; or individuals who have filed such complaints on behalf of other entities and who may have included their personally identifiable information (PII) in the complaint;

2. Individuals who are or have been the subjects of FCC enforcement actions, including field monitoring, inspection, and investigation, for possible violations of FCC Rules and Regulations;

3. Licensees, applicants, regulatees, and unlicensed individuals about whom there are questions of compliance with FCC Rules and Regulations; and

4. FCC employees, contractors, and interns who perform work on behalf of EB.

The categories of records in this system include, but are not limited to:

1. Information that is associated with those individuals who file complaints or who are being investigated for possible enforcement actions. The information may include:

(a) An individual’s name, Social Security Number (SSN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), gender, race/ethnicity, birth date/age, place of birth, biometric data (photograph(s)), marital status, spousal data, miscellaneous family data, home address, home address history, home telephone number(s), personal cell phone number(s), personal fax number(s), personal e-mail address(es), personal criminal background report(s), credit card number(s), driver license number(s), bank account data, financial data, law enforcement data, background investigatory data, national security data, employment and/or employer data, and other miscellaneous materials, documents, files, and records used for background information, data verification, and other purposes.

(b) Inspection reports, audit reports, complaints, referrals, monitoring reports, inspection cases, referral memos, correspondence, audio and sound recordings, photographs, discrepancy notifications, warning notices, forfeiture actions, and other related materials.

(c) Miscellaneous materials, documents, files, and records that are used for background information and data verification concerning individuals who may have been alleged to or have violated the Commission’s Rules and Regulations.

2. Information that is associated with the same or similar current enforcement investigations and historic records and other archival, background, and research data and materials that are stored for reference in enforcement actions, including inspection reports, complaints, monitoring reports, investigative cases, referral memos, correspondence, discrepancy notifications, warning notices, and forfeiture actions; and

3. Other, miscellaneous information that complainants may have included on informal consumer complaint forms, interference reports, as well as any additional FCC forms and complaint data intake systems that may be used from time to time to report possible violations of FCC Rules and Regulations to the FCC or associated with case files.

Sources of records include individuals submitting complaints, relevant law enforcement databases, publicly available electronic information and data, and individuals who have been contacted during investigations to be sources of information.

1. Public Access—Names and other information about individuals subject to investigations or similar actions may be disclosed to the public in Commission releases, including Notices of Apparent Liability, Forfeiture Orders, Consent Agreements, Notice Letters, or all other actions released by EB or the Commission as part of their duties to enforce FCC Rules and Regulations.

2. Due Diligence Inquiries—Where there is an indication of a violation or potential violation of FCC Rules and Regulations, records from this system may be shared with a requesting individual, or representative thereof, for purposes of obtaining such information so long as the information is relevant to a pending transaction of an FCC-issued license.

3. FCC Enforcement Actions—When a record in this system involves an informal complaint filed alleging a violation of FCC Rules and Regulations by an applicant, licensee, certified or regulated entity, or an unlicensed person or entity, the complaint may be provided to the alleged violator for a response. Where a complainant in filing his or her complaint explicitly requests confidentiality of his or her name from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that the request impedes the Commission’s ability to investigate and/or resolve the complaint.

4. Litigation—To disclose records to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the Department of Justice is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

5. Adjudication—To disclose records in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

6. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation, to disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order.

8. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—To the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

9. Breach Notification—To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

11. Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

Information in this information system consists of:

1. Electronic records, files, and data are stored in the FCC’s computer network databases, at headquarters; and

2. Paper records, documents, and files are stored in filing cabinets in the EB office suites at headquarters and in field offices (on an ad hoc, temporary basis when needed to resolve enforcement cases in their jurisdictions as needed for limited periods).

1. Information in the electronic database information can be retrieved by the name(s) of the individual(s) who filed the complaint(s), the individual who is subject of the complaint, and by a unique file number assigned to each type of activity conducted by the Bureau, e.g., internal initiative investigations, complaint investigations, cases, market dispute mediations, formal adjudications, hearings, due diligence requests, etc.

2. Information in the central files, which includes, but is not limited to, paper documents, records, and files, includes all the other information pertaining to these internal initiative investigations, complainant investigations, and/or cases. This information may include, but is not limited to, name, address, and telephone number, and is maintained for reference and archival purposes. This information is retrieved by a unique identification file number assigned to each internal initiative investigation, complainant investigation, and/or case.

The information in this electronic system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) General Records Schedule No. DAA-0173-2014-0002-0002.

The electronic records, data, and files are maintained in the FCC computer network databases at headquarters, which are protected by the FCC’s IT privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA). The paper documents and files are maintained in file cabinets in "non-public" rooms in the EB office suite at headquarters and in field offices. The file cabinets are locked at the end of the business day. Access to the EB offices at both headquarters and field offices is via a key and card-coded door.

Authorized EB supervisors and staff have access to the information in both the electronic files databases and paper document files, and IT contractors, who maintain these electronic files databases, also have access to them. Other FCC employees, interns, and contractors may be granted access to the information in the electronic and paper formats only on a "need-to-know" basis.

Under the authority granted to heads of agencies by 5 U.S.C. 552a (k), the FCC has determined that this system of records is exempt from providing record access procedures for this system of records, 47 CFR 0.561.

Under the authority granted to heads of agencies by 5 U.S.C. 552a (k), the FCC has determined that this system of records is exempt from providing contesting record procedures for this system of records, 47 CFR 0.561.

Under the authority granted to heads of agencies by 5 U.S.C. 552a (k), the FCC has determined that this system of records is exempt from providing notification procedures for this system of records. 47 CFR 0.561.

This system of records is exempt from sections (c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), (H), and (I), and (f) of the Privacy Act of 1974, and from 47 CFR Sections 0.554 – 0.557 of the Commission's rules. These provisions concern the notification, record access, and contesting procedures described above, and also the publication of record sources. The system is exempt from these provisions because it contains investigative material compiled for law enforcement purposes as defined in Section (k) of the Privacy Act.

(88 FR 42364) (June 30, 2023).

/MB-1

FCC/MB-1, Media Ownership and Equal Employment Opportunity Forms and Reports

Unclassified.

Media Bureau (MB) and Enforcement Bureau (EB), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

MB and EB, FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

47 U.S.C. 151, 152(a), 154(i), 257, 303(r), 307, 308, 309, 310, 554(e).

The Commission uses the records in this system:

(1) To assess the data contained in responses to Form 323, and/or Form 323-E, which the Commission uses to evaluate licensees’ or permittees’ compliance with the Commission’s rules applicable to owners of commercial broadcast stations, including AM and FM radio and television (full power, Class A, and low power); and noncommercial broadcast stations, including AM and FM radio and full-power television. These forms are filed: (a) To satisfy the biennial filing requirement (Biennial Ownership Report); (b) As a validation and resubmission of a previously filed Biennial Ownership Report; (c) In connection with the transfer of control or assignment of a broadcast station; (d) By a permittee within 30 days after the grant of a construction permit and on the date that the permittee files its license application; (e) As a certification of accuracy of the initial or post-consummation Ownership Report filed by the permittee in conjunction with its application for a station license; or (f) As an amendment of a previously filed Ownership Report.

(2) To undertake studies of minority and female ownership in responses to Form 323, and/or Form 323-E that include studies that support the Commission’s diversity policy goals and other ownership studies to support its statutory requirement to review the media ownership goals quadrennially to determine whether they are necessary in the public interest as the result of competition.

(3) To assess the data contained in Form 396-B and annual EEO Public File Reports attached to both the Form 396-B and the Form 396-C Supplemental Investigation Sheet (SIS). The FCC uses the Form 396-B to evaluate licensees’ EEO compliance under applicable FCC requirements at the time they apply for license renewal. The Form 396-C SIS is filed no less than once every five years to provide supplemental data on the EEO compliance of a cable operator or DBS provider.

(4) To otherwise utilize Form 323, Form 323-E, Form 396-B, Form 396-C and annual EEO Public File Reports for other lawful purposes, including analyzing effectiveness and efficiency of related FCC programs, informing future rule and policy-making activity, and improving staff efficiency.

The categories of individuals covered by this system include: (1) Licensees, permittees, and respondents, and other individuals or entities with interests therein that are required to file or have their interests reported on: (a) Form 323, "Ownership Report for Commercial Broadcast Stations" pursuant to 47 CFR 73.3615, 73.6026, and 74.797; and/or (b) Form 323-E, "Ownership Report for Noncommercial Broadcast Stations pursuant to 47 CFR 73.3615; (2) Contact individuals reported on: (a) Form 323, e.g., representatives, relating to commercial AM, FM, and television (full power, Class A, and low power) broadcast stations ; and/or (b) Form 323-E, e.g., representatives, relating to noncommercial AM, FM, and full-power television broadcast stations; (3) Individuals, pursuant to 47 CFR 73.3555, with ownership or attributable interests in broadcast stations subject to the Commission’s ownership rules or otherwise required to be reported on Form 323, and/or Form 323-E; and (4) (a) Individuals filing Form 396-B pursuant to 47 CFR 73.2080 on behalf of broadcast stations and SDARS licensees as well as individuals who have filed discrimination complaints involving those licensees and are named in attachments to Form 396-B; and (b) Individuals filing Form 396-C SIS pursuant to 47 CFR 76.77(c); and (c) Individuals (including recruitment sources and referral sources) included in the annual EEO Public File Report associated with a broadcast station or SDARS licensee and who are identified in the last two annual EEO Public File Reports attached to Form 396-B or, with regards to cable operators or DBS providers, the last EEO Public File Report, which is attached to the Form 396-C SIS.

The categories of records in this system include: (1) Information that is required to be submitted on Form 323, and/or Form 323-E, including the ownership or other interests of the licensee/permittee/ respondent, mailing address, telephone number, email address, FCC Registration Number (FRN), Restricted Use FRN (RUFRN), listing type, relationship to licensee/permittee/ respondent/other interest holder, positional interest, joint interest status, Tribal Nation/entity status, marital/ familial relationship, and gender, ethnicity, race, and citizenship, etc.; (2) All exhibits, organizational charts, supporting documentation, and any other materials included with the report (e.g., correspondence, letters, etc.), which are associated with processing Form 323, Form 323-E, or Form 396-B submissions; (3) identifying information in Form 396-B or its attachments, such as the names of individuals associated with discrimination complaints and identifying information included in EEO Public File Reports—an annual report summarizing various recruitment activities of the licensee—such as the names of recruitment contacts at various entities; and (4) identifying information included the EEO Public File Reports attached to the Form 396-C SIS; and (5) Any other records that are submitted in connection with or created as the result of the filing of Form 323, Form 323-E, Form 396-B, Form 396-C SIS or EEO Public File Reports.

The sources for the information in this system are all broadcast stations, SDARS licensees, cable operators and DBS providers and other entities that are required to file an ownership or EEO form or report, either biennially, upon license renewal or at other occasions, under 47 CFR 73.3615, 73.6026, 74.797, 73.20280, and 76.77 of the Commission’s rules, including information submitted on Form 323, Form 323-E, Form 396-B, Form 396-C SIS or EEO Public File Reports, as described above.

1. Public Access—Ownership and EEO Information submitted in Form 323, Form 323-E, Form 396-B, Form 396-C SIS and EEO Public File Reports in the Consolidated Database System (CDBS), the Licensing and Management System (LMS), and the Cable Operations and Licensing System (COALS), as applicable, can be viewed by the public on the Commission’s website.

2. Litigation—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the Department of Justice is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

3. Adjudication—Records may be disclosed in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

4. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation, and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order.

5. Congressional Inquiries—Information may be provided to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of the individual to whom the information pertains.

6. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—Information may be disclosed to the DOJ to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

7. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information system, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

8. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

9. Non-Federal Personnel—Information may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

This an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s network or on an FCC vendor’s network.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by an authorized FCC user by any category field, e.g., first name or email address.

The information in this system is limited to electronic files, records, and data, which includes: (1) The information that pertains to current filing requirements; and (2) the information that pertains to historical records, which is used for archival purposes. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Records Schedule N1-173-86-2, authorizes permanent retention of original documents of information reported pursuant to Sections 73.3613 and 73.3615 of the Commission’s rules, including ownership reports (FCC Form 323). In the absence of a more specific NARA-approved records schedule, any information in this system that is not covered by the agency records control schedule N1-173-86-2 will also be treated as permanent.

Access to the records (i.e., the electronic records, files, and data) housed in the COALS, CDBS, and LMS databases—distinct from the public’s ability to view the ownership information that is available on the FCC’s website—is restricted to authorized MB and EB supervisory and staff and IT staff and contractors, who maintain the COALS, CDBS, and LMS network computer databases. Other FCC staff and contractors may be granted access to this information, only on a "need-to-know" basis. The COALS, CDBS, and LMS databases are part of the FCC’s computer network databases. The records are stored within FCC or a vendor’s accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s or vendor’s computer network databases. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

81 FR 72047 (October 19, 2016)

/MB-2

FCC/MB-2, Online Public Inspection File.

Unclassified.

Media Bureau (MB) and Enforcement Bureau (EB), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

MB and EB, FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i), 154(j), 303, 307, 315, and 335.

The Commission requires television broadcasters to submit their public filing information to the FCC to be posted in an online public inspection file. In 2016, the Commission expanded its OPIF requirements to cable operators, DBS providers, broadcast radio licensees, and SDARS licensees. This system of records covers the PII that may be contained in an OPIF. This includes information related to individuals associated with broadcast entities and SDARS licensees as well as individuals identified in EEO data (including the name of any EEO complainants) collected through Form 396-B pursuant to 47 CFR 73.2080 as well as in audit responses. EEO data are also provided in EEO Public File Reports (including PII related to recruitment and referral sources), which are uploaded to OPIF annually and, in certain years, are attached to Form 396-B and/or an EEO audit response. Further, this system of records also includes information related to individuals associated with cable operators and DBS providers identified in EEO data provided in annual EEO Public File Reports (including PII related to recruitment and referral sources), which are required to be uploaded to OPIF annually, and, every fifth year, the most recent report must be attached by cable operators and DBS providers to the Supplemental Investigation Sheet (SIS) of the Form 396-C, under 47 CFR 76.77. The Commission hosts OPIF in an online, publicly available database for the purpose of making the files more accessible to the public.

This system also includes information about individuals who are required to file personal information pertaining to their political campaigns, including requests for broadcast time made by or on behalf of a candidate and the disposition of those requests, information regarding other appearances by candidates (excluding those in certain news programming exempt from the equal opportunities provision), and information about issue advertising that communicates a message relating to any political matter of national importance. Requiring these entities to maintain complete and up to date political files is critical because the information in these files directly affects, among other things, the statutory rights of opposing candidates to request equal opportunities under Section 315(a) of the Communications Act and present their positions to the public prior to an election. In addition, the political files allow the public to verify that Commission licensees and regulatees have complied with their obligations relating to use of their facilities by candidates for political office and to obtain information about entities sponsoring candidate and issue advertisements.

The categories of individuals in this system include: (1) Individuals who are required to file personal information pertaining to their political campaigns, as described above; (2) Individuals who are associated with a television or radio broadcast station licensee, cable operator, DBS provider, or SDARs licensee and are required to submit information under 47 CFR 73.3526, 73.3527, 25.701, 25.702, and 76.1700; and (3) Individuals filing Form 396-B on behalf of broadcast stations and SDARS licensees and individuals who have filed discrimination complaints involving those licensees and are named in attachments to Form 396-B, which is required under 47 CFR 73.2080, and individuals identified in audit responses and EEO Public File Reports; (4) Individuals associated with EEO data provided by cable operators and DBS providers in annual EEO Public File Reports, including the year subject to SIS which is attached to the Form 396-C.

The categories of records in this system may include an individual’s name, home address, home telephone number, personal cell phone number, personal email address(es), personal fax number, and other personal information that stations may include in their public files, and which may be included in the documents, files, and records (including Form 396) that television and radio broadcast stations, cable operators, DBS providers, SDARS licensees, and certain individuals are required to either submit to the FCC or to post in the FCC’s Online Public Inspection File.

The sources for the information in the Online Public Inspection File include the documents, files, and records (including Form 396, EEO Public File Reports, and, as applicable, responses to audit letters) that television and radio broadcasters, cable operators, DBS providers, and SDARS licensees are required to make available for public inspection in OPIF, as well as information imported from the FCC Licensing and Management System (LMS).

Information about individuals in this system of records may routinely be disclosed under the following conditions:

1. Public Access—Under the rules of the Commission, documents in the Online Public Inspection File are available for public inspection on the FCC’s website.

2. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order.

3. Litigation—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the Department of Justice is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

4. Adjudication—Records may be disclosed in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

6. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—Information may be disclosed to DOJ to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

8. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) Responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

9. Non-Federal Personnel—Records may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

This an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s network or on an FCC vendor’s network.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., first name or email address.

The information in this system is limited to electronic files, records, and data, which includes: (1) The information that pertains to current filing requirements; and (2) the information that pertains to historical records, which is used for archival purposes. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Records Schedule N1–173–86–2, authorizes permanent retention of original documents of information reported pursuant to 47 CFR Sections 73.3526, 73.3527, 25.701, 25.702, and 76.1700 of the Commission’s rules. EEO audit records are retained in accordance with NARA records schedule DAA-0173-2020-0003, EEO Audits. In the absence of a more specific NARA-approved records schedule, such as the schedule for EEO audits, any information in this system that is not covered by the agency records control schedule N1–173–86–2 will also be treated as permanent.

Access to the information, e.g., electronic records, files, and data, in the Online Public Inspection File, which is housed in the FCC computer network databases, is posted on the Internet to be publicly accessible. Only the entities that upload information into the files can alter their information. The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC or a vendor’s accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s or vendor’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

77 FR 32111 (May 31, 2012)

/OCBO-1 Business Contacts Database.

Unclassified.

The Office of Communications Business Opportunities (OCBO), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20554.

Celeste McCray, Program Specialist and Andrea Brown, Program Specialist, OCBO, Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 155, 257, 303; and 5 U.S.C. 602(c) and 609(a)(3).

The FCC uses this system to conduct outreach to individuals and businesses, including but not limited to small, women, and minority-owned businesses.

Individuals and businesses, including but not limited to, small, minority, and women-owned communications’ business owners and employees, as well as other individuals who work or communicate with this segment of the population.

Contact information, such as name, phone numbers, emails, and addresses, as well as work and educational history.

Third Parties – To third parties, including individuals and businesses in the communications industry, to facilitate networking opportunities before, during, or after FCC outreach events.

In each of these cases, the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the records is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

REPORTING TO A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:

The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized Commission employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other FCC employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The FCC’s electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

records as required under 47 CFR part 0, subpart E.

None.

The FCC previously gave full notice of FCC/OCBO–1, Small Business Contacts Database, by publication in the Federal Register on April 5, 2006 (71 FR 17240).

/OET-1 FCC/OET-1, Experimental Radio Station License Files (ELS).

No information in the ELS system is classified. Experimental license applications that contain classified material are treated in a bifurcated manner, with unclassified data filed in ELS. The remaining portion of these applications are filed with the FCC’s Security Operations Staff and are processed consistent with the FCC’s security regulations. The material filed with the Security Operations Staff is maintained separately from and does not become part of the ELS system.

Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20554.

Experimental Licensing Branch, Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.

47 U.S.C. 308.

The uses for the information in the system include, but are not limited to those uses for which FCC employees may determine:

1. An applicant’s eligibility to operate a station in the experimental radio service;

2. The interference potential to other radio services within the Commission; and/or

3. If the proposed project or experimentation falls within the type of permissible operations set forth in section 5.3 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 5.3.

The categories of individuals in this system include, but are not limited to, those who have applied for or have been granted a license to operate an experimental radio station under 47 CFR Part 5 of the Commission’s rules.

The categories of records in this system include, but are not limited to:

1. These FCC Forms, any supporting exhibits submitted by the applicant(s), and related documentation:

(a) FCC Form 159 series, Remittance Advice et al. (when paying fees by check);

(b) FCC Form 405, Application for Renewal of Station License;

(d) FCC Form 702, Application for Consent to Assignment of Radio Station Construction Authorization or License;

(e) FCC Form 703, Application for Consent to Transfer Control of Corporation Holding Station License;

(f) Special Temporary Authority (STA) under 47 CFR 5.61 of the Commission’s rules; and

(g) Any supporting documentation, including but not limited to exhibits and other materials submitted by the applicant(s) and/or licensee(s).

2. Personally identifiable information (PII) included in experimental project reports submitted by the applicant(s) and/or licensee(s) as required by 47 CFR Part 5 of the Commission’s rules, including name, mailing address, e-mail address(es), and telephone number(s).

3. Information included in comments from other FCC bureaus/offices and the NTIA on frequency interference potential and/or coordination of the operation(s).

4. Contested applications for licenses, transfers, assignments, and construction, or petitions to deny or to cancel applicants on behalf of other parties.

5. Comments from other FCC bureaus/offices on whether the project or experimentation is valid, as well as its possible use in rulemakings.

1. Public Access – Information from this system is posted at: https://www.fcc.gov/els for public inspection, in response to a request, in connection with new experimentation being conducted and the impact that this experimentation may have on the public. The information will not be disclosed if it is not routinely available for public inspection under 47 CFR 0.457(d)(1)(ii) of the Commission’s rules, or if a request that the information be given confidential treatment is pending or have been granted under 47 CFR 0.459.

2. Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or other administrative body before which the FCC is authorized to appear when: (a) the FCC or any other component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC have agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or have an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

3. Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, or local agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

4. Congressional Inquiries – To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

5. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To disclose information to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for use in its records management inspections; to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for oversight purposes; to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

6. Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

7. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities – To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

8. For Non-Federal Personnel – To disclose information to contractors performing or working on a contract for OET that provides services for the Federal Government who may require access to this system of records.

REPORTING TO A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY:

In addition to the routine uses listed above, the Commission may share information from this system of records with a consumer reporting agency regarding an individual who has not paid a valid and overdue financial debt owed to the Commission, following the procedures set out in the Debt Collection Act, 31 U.S.C. 3701(e).

Information in this system of records includes:

1. Paper records, files, and documents are maintained for various, short-term uses, as necessary. These documents are maintained in file cabinets in the OET office suite. The file cabinets are locked at the end of the business day. These documents are destroyed by shredding when no longer needed.

2. Electronically scanned images of paper documents and records;

3. Electronic records of data elements of both paper applicants and files and electronically filed applications; and

4. Electronic copies of licenses granted after November 16, 1998.

As required by 47 CFR 5.55(b) of the Commission’s rules, all applications for experimental licensing must now be filed electronically via the Internet at: https://www.fcc.gov/els.

1. The paper documents, files, and records are retrieved by the licensee name. If there is more than one station per licensee, then the files may be also retrieved by call sign; and

2. The scanned images, electronic records of data elements, and electronic copies of licenses may be retrieved from the OET Experimental Licensing Branch Report World Wide Web electronic filing and reporting site at: https://www.fcc.gov/els.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) General Records Schedule DAA-0173-2016-0003. The records, documents, and files are maintained for three years after expiration of the license. The FCC disposes of the paper documents by shredding. The electronic records, files, and data are destroyed either by physical destruction of the electronic storage media or by erasure of the electronic data.

When not publicly available, the electronic data, records, and files are stored within FCC accreditation boundaries. Access to the electronic files is restricted to OET and IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the networks and services. Other FCC employees, contractors, vendors, and users may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The FCC's data are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

The OET staff may print paper copies of these electronic records for various, short-term uses, as necessary. These paper document copies are stored in locked file cabinets in the OET office suite, when not in use. Only authorized OET staff and contractors may have access to these documents, unless OET grants access to FCC employees and contractors, as required, for specific purposes. These paper documents are destroyed by shredding when no longer needed.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about them should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals must furnish reasonable identification by showing any two of the following: social security card; passport; driver’s license; employee identification card; Medicare card; birth certificate; bank credit card; and/or other positive means of identification, or by signing an identity statement stipulating that knowingly or willfully seeking or obtaining access to records about another person under false pretenses is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000.

Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity and access to records, 47 CFR Part 0, Subpart E.

None.

The FCC previously gave full notice of FCC/OET-1, Experimental Radio Station License Files (ELS), by publication in the Federal Register on April 5, 2006 (71 FR 17234, 17241).

/OET-2 Equipment Authorization Records and Files.

None.

Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), Laboratory Division, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 7435 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046.

Individuals who have applied for or been granted an authorization to market equipment using the RF spectrum, in accordance with Part 2 of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) rules.

1. This system includes the following FCC Forms, any supporting exhibits submitted by the applicant(s), and related documentation:

(a) FCC Form 731, Application for Equipment Authorization;

(b) Any supporting exhibits submitted by the applicant(s).

2. This system of records may include test reports and other supporting documentation that demonstrates compliance with the technical rules for licensed transmitters and unlicensed devices as required by FCC Rules, parts 15 and 18.

47 U.S.C. 308.

These records are used to make a determination of compliance of equipment proposed for marketing with the administrative and technical requirements of the FCC as they relate to equipment using the RF spectrum; and to determine the interference potential of equipment proposed for marketing to equipment operating in both the licensed and unlicensed radio services.

Information about individuals in this system of records may routinely be disclosed under the following conditions:

1. Public access--information from this system on granted equipment authorizations may be disclosed to the public if it is routinely available for public inspection under 47 CFR 0.457(d)(1)(ii) and a request has not been made or granted to give the information confidential treatment under 47 CFR 0.459. Pending equipment authorization requests are specifically excluded from disclosure prior to the effective date of the authorization, as specified in 0.457(d)(1)(ii).

2. Adjudication and Litigation--where by careful review, the agency determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to litigation and the use of such records is deemed by the agency to be for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records, these records may be used by a court or adjudicative body in a proceeding when: (a) The agency or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the agency in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the agency in his or her individual capacity where the agency has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation;

3. Law enforcement and Investigation--where there is an indication of a violation or potential violation of a statute, regulation, rule, or order, records from this system may be shared with appropriate Federal, State, or local authorities either for purposes of obtaining additional information relevant to an FCC decision or for referring the record for investigation, enforcement, or prosecution by another agency;

4. Congressional Inquiries--when requested by a Congressional office in response to an inquiry by an individual made to the Congressional office for their own records; and

5. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight--when requested by the National Archives and Records Administration for the purpose of records management inspections conducted under authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906; when the U.S. Department of Justice is contacted in order to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act; or when the Office of Management and Budget is contacted in order to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

In each case the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the records is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

Disclosure to consumer reporting agencies:

None.

Storage:

The equipment authorization database is the repository for all electronically filed applications for equipment authorization and associated information. Per 47 CFR 2.913(a), all applications for equipment authorization must be filed electronically via the Internet.

Scanned images, electronic records of data elements, and electronic copies of granted licenses may be retrieved from the OET Equipment Authorization Electronic Filing World Wide Web site at https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/index.cfm by clicking on the desired link in the Reports section on the left hand side of the page.

All files are available to the public except files not routinely made publicly available under 47 CFR 0.457 or those where a request for confidentiality is pending or has been granted under 47 CFR 0.459. Files which are not routinely made publicly available and those with a pending or granted request for confidentiality may only be accessed by Commission employees who have a need to know the information. Data resident on the database server at the OET Laboratory are backed-up routinely onto magnetic media. Back-up tapes are stored on-site and at the FCC Headquarters location.

The retention schedule for this system of records has not yet been determined. No records will be destroyed until a disposal schedule is approved by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

Chief, Laboratory Division, Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 7435 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046.

Address inquiries to the system manager.

Information supplied by individuals wishing to receive equipment authorization.

None.

/OGC-3

FCC/OGC-3, Adjudication of Internal Complaints Against Employees.

Unclassified.

OGC, FCC, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

5 U.S.C. 301; 47 U.S.C. 154.

Commission attorneys in OGC use these records for purposes including settlement negotiations with opposing parties and litigation before an administrative body or a court of appropriate jurisdiction.

Any FCC employee, former FCC employee, or applicant for employment with the FCC who files or is the subject of a complaint or investigation involving internal personnel actions or activities, which include discrimination, harassment, reprisal, grievance, political activity, separation, or adverse action.

Information in this system of records may include correspondence, memoranda, transcripts of hearings, briefs, pleadings, investigative reports, orders, and decisions, in addition to identifying information such as names and contact information of FCC staff.

The sources for the information in this system of records include:

(a) Individuals filing complaints, and the individuals who are the subjects of such complaints;

(b) Attorneys or representatives of complainants and the subjects of complaints;

(d) Investigative materials and related documentation and decisions involved in final agency decisions, initial administrative law judge orders, appeals, amendments, and litigation concerning such complaints and/or claims; and

(e) Administrative agencies investigating complaints and/or claims (e.g., the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Merit System Protection Board, etc.).

1. Litigation—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

2. Adjudication—Records may be disclosed in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

4. Congressional Inquiries—Information may be provided to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of the individual to whom the information pertains..

5. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—Information may be disclosed to the DOJ to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

6. Certain Disclosures to Other Federal Agencies—Information may be disclosed to a Federal agency, in response to its request in connection with the hiring or retention of an employee, the issuance of a security clearance, the conducting of a suitability or security investigation of an individual, the classifying of jobs, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant, or other benefit by the requesting agency, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the requesting agency's decision on the matter.

7. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by the Agency—Information may be disclosed to a Federal, State, local, foreign, Tribal, or other public agency or authority maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant enforcement records, or other pertinent records, or to another public authority or professional organization, if necessary to obtain information relevant to an investigation concerning the hiring or retention of an employee or other personnel action, the issuance or retention of a security clearance, the classifying of jobs, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a license, grant, or other benefit by the Commission, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the requesting agency's decisions on the matter.

8. Labor Relations—Information may be disclosed to officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. chapter 71 upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5 U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions.

9. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information system, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

10. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) Responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

11. Non-Federal Personnel—Records may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

Information in this system includes both paper and electronic records. The paper records, documents, and files are maintained in file cabinets that are located in OGC and in the FCC Bureaus and Offices (B/Os) of the FCC staff who provide the responses to covered complaints. Electronic records in this system reside on the FCC or a vendor’s network.

Records are retrieved by the name of individuals who are the subjects of complaints or investigations and by the names of individuals who have filed complaints.

Records are retained and disposed of in accordance with the FCC records control schedules NC1–173–84–05, Item 3 and N1–173–91–001, Item 6, both of which have been approved by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

The file cabinets containing paper records in this system are maintained in file cabinets in "non-public" rooms in the OGC and B/O suites. The OGC and B/O file cabinets are locked at the end of the business day. Access to these office suites is through card-coded main doors. Only authorized OGC and B/O supervisors and staff who are responsible for responding to these complaints, have access to these paper records.

Electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC or a vendor’s accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s or vendor’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

83 FR 7721 (Feb. 22, 2018).

OGC-5

FCC/OGC-5, Pending Civil Cases.

Unclassified.

OGC, FCC, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

47 U.S.C. 401 and 402; 31 U.S.C. 3729-3733.

Commission attorneys use this system to update or furnish additional data for DOJ, in those instances in which DOJ is handling a pending civil case involving or on behalf of the FCC.

Any individual who has filed a case involving the FCC before any District Court, Court of Appeals, or the Supreme Court, as well as any other named individuals in the complaint, filing, or appeal.

Information in this system of records may include the name and contact information of the individual(s) associated with a civil case involving the FCC, as well as letters, memoranda, pleadings, briefs, and bankruptcy papers related to the case.

The sources for the information in this system of records include:

(a) Individuals filing claims in civil cases;

(b) Individuals who are the subjects of, or are named in civil cases involving the FCC;

(d) Communication between FCC organizational units (Bureaus and Offices or B/Os), the DOJ including U.S. Attorneys, other Federal agencies, and courts of competent jurisdiction; and

(e) Parties to the proceedings and the investigative materials and related documentation and decisions that involve complaints, appeals, amendments, and litigation concerning such claims in civil cases.

6. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information system, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

7. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) Responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

8. Non-Federal Personnel—Records may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

Information in this system includes both paper and electronic records. The paper records, documents, and files are maintained in file cabinets that are located in OGC and in the B/Os of the FCC staff who provide the responses to such claims. Electronic records in this system reside on the FCC or a vendor’s network.

Records are retrieved by the name of the individual filing or subject of the claim.

Records are retained and disposed of in accordance with the FCC records control schedule N1-173-91-001, Item 6, approved by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The records are destroyed 3 years after closure of the matter or when no longer required for administrative purposes, whichever is sooner.

The file cabinets containing paper records in this system are maintained in file cabinets in "non-public" rooms in the OGC or B/O suites. The OGC and B/O file cabinets are locked at the end of the business day. Access to these offices is through key and card-coded main doors. Only authorized OGC and B/O supervisors and staff have access to these paper records.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

45 FR 9738 (March 7, 2018).

/OIG-3 Investigative and Audit Files.

Sensitive, but not Classified.

OIG, FCC, 45 L Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20554, and OIG, FCC, 9201 Farm House Lane. Columbia, MD 21046.

Johnny Drake, OIG, FCC, 45 L Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20554.

Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended. 5 U.S.C. app.

This system will collect, pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978:

1. Files and documents for investigations initiated and/or referred by or to the OIG or other investigative agencies regarding FCC programs and operations; and reports regarding the results of investigations to other Federal agencies, other public authorities, or professional organizations that have the authority to bring criminal prosecutions or civil or administrative actions, or to impose other disciplinary sanctions;

2. Files and documents for documenting the outcome of OIG investigations;

3. Records of the activities that were the subject of investigations;

4. Reports, files, and documents for investigative findings to the Commission management about problems and deficiencies in the FCC’s programs and operations or to suggest corrective action in reference to identified irregularities, problems, or deficiencies;

5. Records of complaints and allegations received relative to FCC programs and operations and documenting the outcome of OIG reviews of those complaints and allegations;

6. Files and documents for coordinating relationships with other Federal agencies, State and local governmental agencies, and nongovernmental entities in matters relating to the statutory responsibilities of the OIG;

7. Files and documents providing the information necessary to fulfill the reporting requirements of the Inspector General Act of 1978;

8. Files and documents for audits, inspections and evaluations, and surveys conducted by the OIG regarding FCC programs and operations; and

9. Documents for the results of audits, inspections, evaluations and surveys initiated internally or mandated or requested by Congress or other regulatory agencies regarding FCC programs and operations and reporting the results of audits to Congress, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Government Accountability Office (GAO), and other regulatory and oversight agencies.

Collecting and maintaining these types of information is necessary for key activities discussed in this SORN, including analyzing the effectiveness and efficiency of FCC programs, informing future rulemaking and policymaking activity, and improving staff efficiency.

1. Individuals who are or have been the subjects of investigations conducted by the OIG;

2. Individuals who are: witnesses, complainants, informants, suspects, defendants, parties identified by the OIG or by other agencies, constituent units of the FCC and members of the general public in connection with the authorized functions of the OIG; and

3. Individuals who provide information during interviews, walkthroughs, questionnaires, demonstrations, and simulations during OIG audits, inspections, and evaluations.

1. Files developed during investigations of: known or alleged fraud, waste, and abuse; other irregularities; or violations of laws, regulations, orders, or requirements;

2. Files related to programs and operations administered or financed by the FCC, including contractors and others doing business with the FCC;

3. Files relating to FCC employees’ hotline complaints and other miscellaneous complaints;

4. Investigative reports and related documents, such as correspondence, notes, attachments, and working papers; and

5. Audit reports and supporting documentation, such as correspondence, memoranda, transcripts, notes, computations, flowcharts, illustrations and summaries.

Under the authority granted to heads of agencies by 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)-(k), the FCC has determined that this system of records is exempt from disclosing the categories of sources of records for this system of records, 47 CFR 0.561.

1. Law Enforcement and Investigation—Where there is an indication of a violation or potential violation of a statute, regulation, rule, order, or other requirements, records from this system may be shared with appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, or local authorities for purposes of either obtaining additional information relevant to a FCC decision or referring the record for investigation, enforcement, or prosecution by another agency.

2. Disclosure to Public and Private Entities to Obtain Information Relevant to FCC Functions and Duties—The OIG may disclose information from this system to public or private sources to the extent necessary to obtain information from those sources relevant to an OIG investigation, inspection, or audit.

3. Litigation—To disclose records to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the Department of Justice is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

4. Adjudication—To disclose records in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

5. Disclosure to Contractors and Consultants—OIG may disclose a record from this system to the employees of any entity or individual with whom the FCC contracts for the purpose of performing any functions or analyses that facilitate or are relevant to an OIG investigation, audit, inspection, or other inquiry. Before entering into such a contract, the OIG shall require the contractor to maintain Privacy Act safeguards, including as required under the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Privacy Act provisions (subparts 24.1 and 24.2) and include the specified contract clauses (parts 52.224-1 and 52.224-2), as appropriate, to ensure that personal information by contractors who work on FCC-owned systems of records and the system data are protected as mandated.

6. Debarment and Suspension Disclosure —The OIG may disclose information from this system to the FCC or another Federal agency considering suspension or debarment action if the information is relevant to the suspension or debarment action. The OIG also may disclose information to the FCC or another agency to gain information in support of the FCC’s own debarment and suspension actions.

7. Government-Wide Program Management and Oversight—The OIG may disclose a record from this system to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or the OMB to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

8. Prevention of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Disclosure—The OIG may disclose a record from this system to Federal agencies, non-Federal entities, their employees, and agents (including contractors, their agents or employees; employees or contractors of the agents or designated agents); or contractors, their employees or agents with whom the FCC has a contract, service agreement, cooperative agreement, or computer matching agreement for the purpose of: (1) detection, prevention, and recovery of improper payments; (2) detection and prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse in Federal programs administered by a Federal agency or non-Federal entity; (3) detection of fraud, waste, and abuse by individuals in their operations and programs, but only to the extent that the information shared is necessary and relevant to verify pre-award and prepayment requirements prior to the release of Federal funds, prevent and recover improper payments for services rendered under programs of the FCC or of those Federal agencies and non-Federal entities to which the FCC provides information under this routine use.

9. Disclosure to CIGIE —The OIG may disclose a record from this system to members and employees of CIGIE for the preparation of reports to the President and Congress on the activities of the Inspectors General.

10. Disclosure for Qualitative Assessment Reviews—The OIG may disclose a record from this system to members of CIGIE, the DOJ, the U.S. Marshals Service, or any Federal agency for the purpose of conducting qualitative assessment reviews of the investigative operations of the OIG to ensure that adequate internal safeguards and management procedures are maintained.

11. Breach Notification—To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of PII maintained in the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

12. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

13. Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

14. To provide information to a Congressional member’s office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the request of that individual.

15. To Congress, congressional committees, or the staffs thereof once an FCC-OIG report or management alert has become final and the IG determines that its disclosure is necessary to fulfill the IG’s responsibilities under the IG Act of 1978, as amended.

Information in this system consists of paper records, documents, and files in file folders and electronic records, files, and data that are stored in the OIG databases that are part of the FCC’s computer network. Electronic records may also be contained in databases that are not part of FCC’s computer network, and also are stored in removable drives, computers, and other electronic databases.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., first name or email address, or by a unique file number assigned to each matter.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Records Schedule: Office of Inspector General (OIG)—Investigative Files, N1-173-07-002, Item 1.

The paper, diskette, and records contained in other media are password protected or kept in locked storage that is further secured at the end of each business day. Limited access to these records is permitted by those persons whose official duties require such access; thus, unauthorized examination during business hours would be easily detected.

The electronic records, files, and data are maintained in the FCC computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized OIG supervisors and staff. Authorized OIG staff and OIG contractors and authorized staff and contractors in the FCC’s Information Technology Center (ITC) have access to the electronic files on an "as needed" basis. Backup media are stored on-site and at a secured, off-site location. The FCC’s computer network databases are protected by the FCC’s security protocols, which include controlled access, passwords, and other security features to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to the data and system resources. This comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features is designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), OMB, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Under the authority granted to heads of agencies by 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)-(k), the FCC has determined that this system of records is exempt from disclosing its record access procedures for this system of records, 47 CFR 0.561.

Under the authority granted to heads of agencies by 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)-(k), the FCC has determined that this system of records is exempt from disclosing its contesting record procedures for this system of records, 47 CFR 0.561.

Under the authority granted to heads of agencies by 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)-(k), the FCC has determined that this system of records is exempt from the notification procedure for this system of records. 47 CFR 0.561.

Pursuant to subsection 0.561 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 0.561, this system of records is exempt from §§ (c)(3), (c)(4), (d), (e)(1) through(3), (e)(4)(G) through(I), (e)(5), (e)(8), (f), and (g) of the Privacy Act and from 47 CFR 0.554–0.557 of the Commission's rules. These provisions concern individuals’ rights to access and amend information about themselves, and an agency’s duties to provide notice about how individuals can access information about themselves. The system is exempt from these provisions because it contains the types of materials described in subsections (j)(2) and (k)(1)-(2) of the Privacy Act.

The FCC created this system of records (OIG-3) in 2011 by combining into a single system of records the OIG’s criminal and civil investigative files, 76 Fed. Reg. 53454 (Aug. 26, 2011).

/OLA-1 Legislative Management Tracking System (LMTS).

Unclassified.

OLA, FCC, 45 L St NE, Washington, DC 20554.

5 U.S.C. 301; 44 U.S.C. 3101; 47 U.S.C. 154(i), (j), and (k), and 47 U.S.C. 155(a).

OLA uses the LMTS to store, track, and manage correspondence to or from the members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the Vice President and President of the United States. This correspondence may include attachments that could contain PII from individuals (members of the public at large) who contacted their Congressional Representative(s), Senator(s), and/or the Vice President or President concerning various telecommunications issues affecting them, e.g., telephone and cable bills, etc. In addition, LMTS tracks correspondence regarding FCC employees who have requested Congressional assistance with their personal employment issues at the Commission, e.g., hiring and promotion matters, etc.

The categories of individuals in the Legislative Management Tracking System (LMTS) include members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Senators, and the Vice President and President of the United States; members of the public at large; and FCC employees.

The categories of records in the LMTS may include:

1. Members of the public at large: individual’s name, home address, home telephone number(s), personal cell phone number(s), account number(s) for telephone, cell phone, cable television, and satellite television services, and other, miscellaneous information that an individual may include in his/her Congressional (constituent) complaint(s) and/or consumer complaints, etc.; and

2. FCC employees: individual’s name, home address, home telephone number(s), personal cell phone number(s), FCC employment records, and other miscellaneous, information that a Commission employee may include in a complaint or request.

The sources for the information in the LMTS are Congressional and Executive Branch correspondence, including attachments, which may include complaints related to telephone, wireless, and cable billing or service; licensing inquiries; or other inquiries on issues under FCC jurisdiction, etc., submitted by constituents (members of the public at large); or personnel actions or complaints from constituents who are FCC employees.

Information about individuals in this system of records may routinely be disclosed under the following conditions:

1. Litigation—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the Department of Justice is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

4. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—Information may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

6. Executive Branch Inquiries—Records may be shared with other Federal agencies, including the White House and OMB, to assist individuals whose information is contained in this system.

7. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) The Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

Electronic records in this system reside on the FCC or a vendor’s network.

Information in the LMTS is retrieved by the correspondence log-in file number, Congressional Representative’s name, and/or type of complaint, etc. Regardless of the circumstances, OLA always redacts the Social Security Number and birthdate before entering a document into LMTS. Other personally identifiable information (PII) in an attachment may also be redacted prior to filing the correspondence if it is not relevant to the complaint or inquiry.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Records Schedules N1–173–-92-002, Office of Legislative Affairs Records, and N1–173–-96-001, Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Records.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to contest information pertaining to him or her in the system of records should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records contains information about themselves may do so by writing to privacy@fcc.gov. Individuals requesting record access or amendment must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity as required under 47 CFR part 0, subpart E.

None.

76 FR 23811 (April 28, 2011)

FCC/OMD-2, Labor Relations and Employee Performance Files

Unclassified.

Human Resources Management (HRM), Office of Managing Director(OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC, 20554.

Human Resources Management (HRM), Office of Managing Director(OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

5 U.S.C. 35, 43, 61, 63, 71, 73, 75, and 77.

These records contain information on Commission employees for purposes such as litigation, law enforcement, congressional inquiries, labor organization inquiries, and government-wide program oversight.

Current and former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) employees.

This system contains a variety of records relating to formal and informal actions based on conduct or performance and also includes files dealing with grievances filed under the negotiated or administrative grievance procedures, requests for reconsideration, arbitrations, appeals, and miscellaneous inquiries and complaints. These records may include:

1. Case number, employee name, Social Security Number, grade, job title, and employment history; and

2. Copies of notices of proposed actions; materials relied on by the agency to support the proposed action; statements of witnesses; employee grievances, responses, or appeals; transcripts; and agency decisions.

This system of records includes information provided by an individual on whom the record is maintained; testimony of witnesses, supervisors and managers, and union officials; and decisions by arbitrators and other thirdparties, e.g., Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Federal Labor Relations Authority, and Merit System Protection Board.

1. Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or to other administrative or adjudicative bodies before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) The FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC have agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

2. Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, local, or tribal agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

3. Congressional Inquiries – To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

4. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To disclose information to the U.S. Treasury to disburse payment determination information to pay a claimant once the compensation decision has been reached; to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

5. Breach Notification—To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) The Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of data maintained in the

system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

6. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities—To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) Responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

7. For Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, i.e., contractors, performing or working on a contract in connection with human resources management and/or IT services for the Federal Government, who may require access to this system of records.

8. Non-FCC Individuals and Organizations—To disclose information to individuals, including former FCC employees, and organizations, in the course of an investigation or proceeding to the extent necessary to obtain information pertinent to the investigation or proceeding.

Reporting To A Consumer Reporting Agencies:

Information in this system includes both paper and electronic records. The paper records, documents, and files are maintained in file cabinets that are located in OMD. The electronic records, files, and data are stored in the FCC’s computer network.

These records are retrieved preliminarily by case number or employee name. Where applicable, an examination of case logs will disclose the name of an employee associated with a case number.

Records in this system are subject to General Records Schedule 2.3 (DAA– GRS–2018–0002). Disposal is by shredding or burning for paper files and deletion for electronic files.

The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized OMD employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other FCC employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The FCC’s electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Paper records are kept in file cabinets in non-public rooms in the OMD office suite. The file cabinets are locked at the end of the day, or when not in use. Access to these office suites is through card-coded doors. The access points to these offices are also monitored. Only authorized OMD supervisors and staff have access to these paper records.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

None.

The FCC previously gave full notice of FCC/OMD–2, Labor Relations and Employee Performance Files, by publication in the Federal Register on April 5, 2006 (71 FR 17248).

/OMD-3 FCC/OMD-3, Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Membership Files

Unclassified.

1. General Files (stored electronically): Associate Managing Director—Performance Evaluation and Records Management (PERM), Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Washington, DC 20554; (202) 418-7044.

2. Financial Disclosure Files (i.e., OGE Form 450 and FCC Form A54A): Office of General Counsel (OGC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Washington, DC 20554; (202) 418-1720.

3. Committee-Specific Files: Information concerning the FCC’s current FACA Committees may be found at: https://fcc.gov/about-fcc/advisory-committees-fcc.

Associate Managing Director, Performance Evaluation and Records Management (PERM), Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Washington, DC 20554.

1. Communicate effectively and promptly with the FCC’s FACA committee applicants, members, individual participants, and administrative assistants;

2. Complete mandatory reports to Congress and the General Services Administration (GSA) about FACA advisory committee matters; and

3. Ensure compliance with all ethical and conflict-of-interest requirements concerning the applicants/nominees and members of the FCC's FACA advisory committees, including the requirements in OGE Form 450.

1. Applicants/Nominees to FACA committees sponsored or co-sponsored by FCC;

2. Members of FACA committees sponsored or co-sponsored by the FCC;

3. Individual participants in FACA working groups/subcommittees (who are not necessarily appointed members of the advisory committee); and

4. Administrative Assistant(s) or other similar contact(s) within the organization that an advisory committee member represents.

The categories of records in this system include, but are not limited to:

1. FACA Committee Applicants/Nominees and Members:

Applicant/Nominee/Member’s full name, home address(es), organization represented, home e-mail address(es), home telephone and personal cellphone number(s), fax number(s), resume (e.g., which includes, but is not limited to the full name, home address, home, cell, and other telephone numbers, home fax number(s), home e-mail address(es), work experience, educational attainment, and references), nominee’s qualifications statement, and/or letters of recommendation (e.g., which includes, but is not limited to the reference’s name, address, telephone numbers(s), e-mail address(es), and personal evaluation/recommendation of their colleague’s job performance, skills, abilities, and related information), Federal lobbyist status (yes/no), area(s) of expertise, and occupation (or title), and tribal, (non-English speaking) linguistic, disability, elderly, and related group affiliation(s), which, are kept with the applicant/nominee/member’s respective advisory committee.

2. Individual participants in FACA working groups/subcommittees (who are not necessarily members of the advisory committee):

Participant’s full name, home address(es), organization represented, home e-mail address(es), home telephone and personal cellphone number(s), fax number(s), resume (e.g., which includes, but is not limited to the full name, home address, home, cell, and other telephone numbers, home fax number(s), home e-mail address(es), work experience, educational attainment, and references), nominee’s qualifications statement, and/or letters of recommendation (e.g., which includes, but is not limited to the reference’s name, address, telephone numbers(s), e-mail address(es), and personal evaluation/recommendation of their colleague’s job performance, skills, abilities, and related information), Federal lobbyist status (yes/no), area(s) of expertise, and occupation (or title), and tribal, (non-English speaking) linguistic, disability, elderly, and related group affiliation(s), which, are kept with the participant’s respective advisory committee.

3. Committee Members’ assistants or organizational contacts:

Assistant/organizational contact’s full name, home address(es), organization represented, home e-mail address(es), home telephone and personal cellphone number(s), fax number(s), resume (e.g., which includes, but is not limited to the full name, home address, home, cell, and other telephone numbers, home fax number(s), home e-mail address(es), and related information), Federal lobbyist status (yes/no), area(s) of expertise, and occupation (or title), and tribal, (non-English speaking) linguistic, disability, elderly, and related group affiliation(s), which are kept with the respective advisory committee.

4. Originals or copies of the financial disclosure form, OGE Form 450, and associated vetting documentation, which the FACA committee applicants/nominees and members may be required to file in accordance with the requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, as amended, and E.O. 12674, as modified.

The sources for the information in this system include, but are not limited to, the information that is supplied by individuals applying for membership to the FCC’s FACA committees, members of the FCC’s FACA committees, individual participants in the FCC’s FACA committee working groups/subcommittees, and advisory committee members’ administrative assistants or organizational contacts.

Committee Communication and Reporting – Records in this system may be disclosed to the Chair (or Vice Chair) of the advisory committee for purposes of determining membership on appropriate subcommittees or assignment of tasks to achieve the committee’s goals, and/or used to distribute information to the FACA committee members, their assistants, and other participants for the purposes of conducting meetings, general committee business, and/or preparing reports on the membership and work of the committee.

Public Access – The public can access information about the FCC’s Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) committees at: https://www.fcc.gov/about-fcc/advisory-committees-fcc, as well as in the searchable database found on the General Services Administration's (GSA) website at https://www.facadatabase.gov/FACA/FACAPublicPage.

Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or to other administrative or adjudicative bodies before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC have agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, local, or tribal agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To provide information to the General Services Administration (GSA) and/or the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for oversight purposes; to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for use in its records management inspections; to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department's advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office's advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of data maintained in the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

Contract Services, Grants, or Cooperative Agreements – To disclose information to FCC contractors, grantees, or volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

REPORTING TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:

In addition to the routine uses listed above, the Commission may share information from this system of records with a consumer reporting agency regarding an individual who has not paid a valid and overdue debt owed to the Commission, following the procedures set out in the Debt Collection Act, 31 U.S.C. 3701(e).

Paper documents, records, and files (except OGE Form 450 files) that are maintained in file folders in file cabinets in the office suites of the Designated Federal Officers (DFOs) in the Bureaus and Offices (B/Os); these records are generally received electronically, and the DFOs are directed to scan, verify, and electronically file hard copies when received.

Electronic data, records, and files that are stored in the FCC's computer network databases; and

Original and any copies (paper format) of OGE Form 450 files, documents, and records are maintained in file folders in file cabinets in the OGC office suite.

The FACA records (except OGE Form 450 files and associated vetting documents) are grouped primarily by the name of the FACA committee or subcommittee. Under this filing hierarchy, records are then retrieved by an individual’s name; and

OGE Form 450 files and associated vetting documents are retrieved by the individual’s name or other programmatic identifier assigned to the individual on whom they are maintained.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) General Records Schedule DAA-GRS-2015-0001 (GRS 6.2) Federal Advisory Committee Records:

•

Substantive Committee Records

Records documenting the establishment and formation of committees and their significant actions and decisions. Refer to agency administrative procedures to ascertain if these records are held by the CMO, or DFO. Only one copy of each record is considered permanent. These are Permanent records and will be transferred to the National Archives at the time that related permanent records are transferred (DAA-GRS-2015-0001-0001).

•

Substantive Audiovisual Records

Records include audiotapes, videotapes, and/or other recordings of meetings and hearings not fully transcribed; captioned formal and informal analog or digital photographs, and any related finding aids, of committee members and staff, meetings, or hearings; and posters (2 copies) produced by or for the committee. These are Permanent records and will be transferred to the National Archives at the time that related permanent records are transferred (DAA-GRS-2015-0001-0002).

•

Committee Accountability Records

Records that document financial and ethics accountability, such as records documenting financial expenditures associated with the functioning of the committee and financial disclosure and conflict of interest documents. These are Temporary records that do not contain unique information of historical value and are destroyed or deleted when six years old or when no longer required for business purposes (DAA-GRS-2015-0001-0004).

•

Non-substantive Committee Records

Records related to specific committees that are of an administrative nature or are duplicative of information maintained elsewhere. These are Temporary records to be destroy when superseded, obsolete, no longer needed, or upon termination of the committee, whichever is sooner. (DAA-GRS-2015-0001-0005).

•

Committee Management Records

Records created and/or maintained by Committee Management Officers (CMOs) and their staff related to the overall management of committees for an agency. These records may pertain to specific committees or to the committee management function in general. These are Temporary records to be destroy when 3 years old, 3 years after submission of report, or 3 years after superseded or obsolete, as appropriate. Longer retention is authorized if required for business use. (DAA-GRS-2015-0001-0006).

The FCC disposes of the paper documents by shredding. The electronic records, files, and data are destroyed either by physical destruction of the electronic storage media or by erasure of the data.

1. FACA paper records documents, records, and files (except OGE Form 450 files) are maintained in file cabinets in the office suites of the DFO’s Bureau or Office (B/O). These file cabinets are locked at the end of each business day. Access to each office suite is through a card-coded main door. Access to these files is restricted to the PERM supervisors and staff and to the DFO’s authorized supervisors and staff in each Bureau or Office;

2. Paper copies of OGE Form 450 files, documents, and records are maintained in file cabinets in the OGC office suite. These file cabinets are locked at the end of each business day. Access to the OCG OGC office suite is through a card-coded main door. Access to these files is restricted to OGC supervisors and staff; and

3. Access to non-public FACA electronic records, files, and data, which are housed in the FCC’s computer network databases, is restricted to authorized PERM supervisors and staff; to the supervisors and staff in each DFO’s Bureau/Office; to the OGC supervisors and staff for OGE Form 450 files and associated vetting documentation; and to the Information Technology (IT) staff and contractors, who maintain the FCC’s computer network. Other FCC employees and contractors may be granted access only on a "need-to-know" basis. The records in the FCC’s computer network are protected by the FCC’s security protocols, which include controlled access, passwords, and other IT safety and security features.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records contains information about themselves may do so by writing to Privacy Team, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554, or Privacy@fcc.gov.

Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity to gain access to the records (47 CFR Part 0, Subpart E).

None.

The FCC last gave full notice of this system of records, FCC/OMD-3, Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Membership Files, by publication in the Federal Register on October 13, 2013 (78 FR 63196).

/OMD-28 FCC/OMD-28, Time and Attendance Records.

Unclassified.

HRM, OMD, FCC, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

5 U.S.C. 5501 et seq., 5520a, 5525 et seq., 5701 et seq. and 6301 et seq.; 10 U.S.C. 1408; 28 U.S.C. 66a; 44 U.S.C. 2801, 2802; 5 U.S.C. 6328 through 6340; 42 U.S.C. 659; Federal Employees Leave Sharing Act of 1988 and Amendments of 1993 (Pub. L. Nos. 100-440, 101-509), Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act 1966 (Pub. L. 104-193).

HRM uses the information in this system for the following purposes:

1. Authorizing payroll deductions, including allotments, charitable contributions, and union dues;

2. Collecting indebtedness, including overpayment of salary and unpaid Internal Revenue Service (IRS) taxes and/or state taxes, etc.;

3. Paying income tax obligations, including to the IRS and states’ revenue departments;

4. Authorizing the United States Department of Agriculture, National Finance Center (NFC) to issue salary payments;

5. Reporting gross wages and compensation information, including unemployment compensation;

6. Paying any uncollected compensation, including lump-sum payments of leave upon an employee’s separation, such as retirement and resignation, or due to the beneficiaries of a deceased employee;

7. Determining leave balances, including accrued and used leave, sick leave, eligibility for and/or authorize donations for the leave transfer program, and other types of leave categories;

8. Collecting aggregate telework data to report to the Office of Personnel Management.

Producing summary descriptive statistics and analytical studies in support of the FCC’s operational functions;

10. Responding to general requests for statistical information without disclosing any personally identifiable information (PII) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA);

11. Locating specific individuals for HRM functions; and

12. Directing the FCC’s implementation of garnishment and levy orders served upon the Commission for implementation, correspondence, and memorandum, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by another government entity authorized to issue such an order for a Commission employee subject thereto.

The categories of individuals whose records are maintained in this system include current and former FCC employees.

The records in this system include the following categories of information: (1) Information pertaining to current and former FCC employees including names, work and home addresses, Social Security Numbers (SSNs), dates of birth, dates of hire, states of hire, bureau/office, quarterly earnings, timekeeper numbers, salaries, pay plans, number of hours worked, leave accrual rate, usage, balances, associated supporting documentation such as Requests for Leave, Credit Hours earned, Compensatory and Overtime hours requested and earned, time off awards credited, leave transfer requests, leave donor forms, medical documentation to support advance of sick leave and leave transfer, tax, payroll allotment, direct deposit forms, employer identifying information, etc.; and (2) Orders related to wage garnishment served on the FCC for implementation, related correspondence, and memoranda issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by another government entity authorized to issue such an order for a FCC employee subject thereto.

Sources of records include FCC employees, bankruptcy courts, state domestic relations courts, state public health and welfare departments or agencies, the IRS, and intra-agency memoranda.

1. Compliance with Welfare Reform Requirements—Records, including names, Social Security Numbers, home addresses, dates of birth, dates of hire, quarterly earnings, employer identifying information, and state of hire of employees, may be disclosed to the Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families, and Department of Health and Human Services for the purposes of locating individuals to establish paternity, establishing and modifying orders of child support, identifying sources of income, and for other child support enforcement actions as required by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act.

2. Litigation—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

6. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—Records may be disclosed to DOJ to obtain that Department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the FOIA; or to OMB to obtain that office’s employer identifying information, and advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

7. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by the Agency—Disclosure may be made to a Federal, State, local, foreign, tribal, or other public agency maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant enforcement records, or other pertinent records, or to another public authority or professional organization, if necessary to obtain information relevant to an investigation concerning the retention of an employee or other personnel action (other than hiring), the retention of a security clearance, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a grant or other benefit.

8. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by Other than the Agency—Disclosure may be made to a Federal, State, local, foreign, tribal, or other public authority of the fact that this system of records contains information relevant to the retention of an employee, the retention of a security clearance, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a license, grant, or other benefit. The other agency or licensing organization may then make a request supported by the written consent of the individual for the entire record if it so chooses. No disclosure will be made unless the information has been determined to be sufficiently reliable to support a referral to another office within the agency or to another Federal agency for criminal, civil, administrative, personnel, or regulatory action.

9. Labor Relations—A record from this system may be disclosed to officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. chapter 71 upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5 U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions.

10. Financial Obligations under the Debt Collection Act—A record from this system may be disclosed to other Federal agencies for the purpose of collecting and reporting on delinquent debts as authorized by the Debt Collection Act of 1982 or the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996. A record from this system may be disclosed to any Federal, state, or local agency to conduct an authorized computer matching program in compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, to identify and locate individuals who are delinquent in their repayment of certain debts owed to the U.S. Government. A record from this system may be used to prepare information on items considered income for taxation purposes to be disclosed to Federal, State, and local governments.

11. Financial Obligations Required by the National Finance Center et al.—Records may be disclosed to the NFC (the FCC’s designated payroll office), the Department of the Treasury Debt Management Services, and/or a current employer to effect a salary, IRS and/or state tax refund(s), or administrative offset to satisfy an indebtedness; and to Federal agencies to identify and locate former employees for the purposes of collecting such indebtedness, including through administrative, salary, or tax refund offsets. Identifying and locating former employees, and the subsequent referral to such agencies for offset purposes, may be accomplished through authorized computer matching programs under applicable statutory procedures.

12. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

14. Pay and Leave Disclosures—A record from this system may be disclosed to any federal or nonfederal entity from which additional information is requested relevant to an FCC determination concerning an individual’s pay or leave to the extent necessary to identify the individual, inform the source of the purpose(s) of the requests, and to identify the type of information requested.

15. Non-Federal Personnel—Records may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

The electronic data, files, and records are housed in the FCC’s computer network databases. The paper records are stored in file cabinets located in the HRM office suite. The file cabinets are locked when not in use and/or at the end of the business day. The file cabinets are accessible only via card-coded security doors. Access to the file cabinets is restricted to authorized HRM personnel and FCC contractors.

Information in the electronic database can be retrieved by searching electronically for the FCC employee’s name. Information in the paper records can be retrieved by manual search for the FCC employee’s name.

The information in this electronic system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) General Records Schedule 2.4: Employee Compensation and Benefits Records (DAA-GRS-2016-0015).

The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC or a vendor’s accreditation boundaries and maintained in FCC or vendor’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

The paper records are stored in file cabinets located in the HRM office suite. The file cabinets are locked when not in use and/or at the end of the business day. The file cabinets are accessible only via card-coded security doors. Access to the file cabinets is restricted to authorized HRM personnel and FCC contractors.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None

76 FR 51975 (August 19, 2011) and 76 FR 55388 (September 7, 2011) (correction).

/OMD-13 FCC/OMD-13, Information Quality Comments.

Unclassified.

Performance Evaluation and Records Management (PERM), Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554.

Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001, Pub. L. 106-554 sec. 515, Appendix C, 114 Stat. 2763A-153 (2000).

The Data Quality Act of 2001 and OMB’s implementing regulations mandate that agencies develop and make public guidelines for commenting on information disseminated by that Federal agency. Further, OMB requires that Federal agencies publicly post on their web sites the information quality comments deemed to meet the agency standards and the resolution of those comments. This system of records maintains the comments received from the public since the inception of this requirement in FY2003.

Categories of individuals in this system include, but are not limited to members of the public who have submitted comments or questions through the Information Quality Comments process.

Information in this system includes, but is not limited to comments received through the FCC's Information Quality Comment process and, where appropriate, materials that are associated with the resolution of those comments. The system retains information about commenters, but will not make personally identifiable information (PII) about a commenter public on the FCC’s web site.

1. Public Access – In accordance with OMB’s requirements (OMB Memorandum from John Graham, August 30, 2004, "Posting of Information Quality Correction Requests and Responses" found at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-regulatory-affairs/ the complete set of correspondence with a qualifying Information Quality commenter is available on the FCC’s Information Quality web page at: https://www.fcc.gov/general/information-quality-guidelines-fcc.

2. Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or in a proceeding before a court or other administrative body before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

3. Law enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, and/or local agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, regulation, rule, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

5. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To disclose information to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for use in its records management inspections; to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for oversight purposes; to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act; or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

6. For Non-Federal Personnel – To disclose information to contractors performing or working on a contract for the Federal Government who may require access to this system of records.

7. Breach Notification – To disclose information to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

8. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities – To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

Reporting To a Consumer Reporting Agency:

Any paper copies of comments received are made electronic, and once verified, posted on the FCC’s web site. Any electronic versions of actual comments are also posted on the FCC web site.

The Commission saves each record submitted by the name of the person filing it, as well as the date of submittal. The information is subsequently posed to www.fcc.gov by the fiscal year.

Records are retrievable primarily by date of submittal. Under this hierarchy, records are retrievable by name of individual requester.

Electronic records are posted on the FCC web site, including any complaints and responses, and thus, are publicly available. The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC accreditation boundaries. Access to the electronic files is restricted to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the networks and services. Other FCC employees, contractors, vendors, and users may be granted access on a "need-to-know" basis. The FCC's data is protected by the FCC and third party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Any paper copies of comments received are made electronic and destroyed by shredding after the electronic version is verified as allowed by NARA. Only authorized PERM staff and contractors may have access to these documents. Other FCC employees and contractors may be granted access as required, for specific purposes.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about them should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals must furnish reasonable identification by showing any two of the following: social security card; driver’s license; employee identification card; Medicare card; birth certificate; bank credit card; or other positive means of identification, or by signing an identity statement stipulating that knowingly or willfully seeking or obtaining access to records about another person under false pretenses is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000.

Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity and access to records (47 CFR Part 0, Subpart E).

None.

The FCC last gave full notice of this system of records, FCC/OMD-13, Information Quality Comments (formerly: FCC/OMD-13, Data Quality Comments), by publication in the Federal Register on April 5, 2006 (71 FR 17234, 17256).

/OMD-16

FCC/OMD-16, Personnel Security Files.

Most personnel identity verification records are not classified. However, in some cases, records of certain individuals, or portions of some records may have national defense/foreign policy classifications.

Security Operations Center, Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20554.

Security Operations Center (SOC), Office of the Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission, (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20554.

5 U.S.C. 1303, 1304, 3301, 7902, 9101; 42 U.S.C. 2165 and 2201; 50 U.S.C. 781 to 887; 5 CFR Parts 5, 732, and 736; Executive Orders 9397, 10450, 10865, 12196, 12333, 12356, and 12674, 13587; and Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 12, Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors, August 27, 2004.

The FCC must document, support, and track its decisions regarding personnel security. The SOC uses the information in this system to document and track:

1. Determinations about an individual's suitability, eligibility, and fitness for Federal employment, as well as access to classified information or restricted areas and security clearances;

2. Determinations about an individual’s suitability, eligibility, and fitness to perform contractual services for the U.S. Government;

3. Determinations about an individual’s suitability, eligibility, and fitness to access FCC and other Federal facilities, information, systems, or applications, and documenting such determinations;

4. Investigate, respond, document, and track complaints about inappropriate workplace behavior; and

5. Document security violations, such as insider threats, and management actions taken in response to those violations.

The individuals in this system include:

1. Current and former FCC employees, including full and part time employees, interns, detailees, and volunteers;

2. Current and former contractor employees and prospective contractor employees, for whom an investigation is initiated and/or conducted;

3. Individuals who are authorized to perform, provide, or to use services in FCC facilities (either on an ongoing or occasional basis), such as security personnel, custodial staff, maintenance workers, contractors, health clinic staff, and employee assistance program staff;

4. All other individuals who may require regular on-going access to the FCC’s buildings and facilities, information technology (IT) systems, or information classified in the interest of national security, as well as individuals formerly in any of these positions;

5. Witnesses, references, and other individuals who have provided information about the subject of an investigation documented in this system;

6. Individuals who may be involved with potential, alleged, or actual security violations, including insider threat activity.

1. Personally identifiable information from Standard Form 85 " Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions," Standard Form 85P "Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions," Standard Form 85P-S "Supplemental Questionnaire for Selected Positions," Standard form 86 "Questionnaire for National Security Position," and predecessor and successor forms of the same type; copies of investigative reports from other federal agencies; correspondence, information, and other supporting documentation related to the investigation, adjudication, and maintenance of public trust and national security information positions;

2. Information needed to investigate allegations of misconduct, including insider threats and complaints not covered by the FCC's formal or informal grievance procedures.

Under the authority granted to heads of agencies by 5 U.S.C. 552a (k), the FCC has determined (47 CFR Section 0.561) that this system of records is exempt from disclosing its record sources for this system of records.

1. Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or other administrative body before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

2. Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, local, or tribal agency, or component of an agency, such as the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

4. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

5. Non-FCC Individuals and Organizations – To individuals, including former FCC employees, and organizations in the course of an investigation to the extent necessary to obtain information pertinent to the investigation.

6. Complainants and Victims – To individual complainants and/or victims to the extent necessary to provide such individuals with information and explanations concerning the progress and/or results of the investigation or case arising from the matter of which they complained and/or of which they were a victim.

7. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) – To OPM management, Merit Systems Protection Board, Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, Federal Labor Relations Authority, and the Office of Special Counsel for the purpose of properly administering Federal personnel systems or other agencies’ systems in accordance with applicable laws, Executive Orders, and regulations.

8. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by the FCC – To a Federal, State, local, foreign, tribal, or other public agency or authority maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant enforcement records, or other pertinent records, or to another public authority or professional organization, if necessary to obtain information relevant to an investigation concerning the hiring or retention of an employee or other personnel action, the issuance or retention of a security clearance, the classifying of jobs, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a license, grant, or other benefit by the requesting agency, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the requesting agency’s decisions on the matter.

9. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by Other than the FCC – To a Federal, State, local, foreign, tribal, or other public agency or authority of the fact that this system of records contains information relevant to the hiring or retention of an employee, the issuance or retention of a security clearance, the conducting of a suitability or security investigation of an individual, the classifying of jobs, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a license, grant, or other benefit by the requesting agency, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the agency’s decision on the matter.

10. Labor Relations – To officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71 consistent with provisions in an effective collective bargaining agreement or upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5 U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions.

11. Security Officials and Investigators – To Security Officials and investigators of Federal Government agencies or departments for liaison purposes where appropriate during meetings or conferences involving access to classified materials.

12. Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and person when (1) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (2) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (3) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with Commission efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

13. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities – To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

14. For Non-Federal Personnel – To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, i.e., contractors, performing or working on a contract in connection with the Security Operations Center and/or IT services for the Federal Government, who may require access to this system of records.

Disclosure to consumer reporting agencies:

Electronic data, records, and files are maintained in a stand-alone computer database hosted on FCC’s computer network.

The records in this information system are retained and disposed of in accordance with General Records Schedule (GRS) 5.6, items 180 and 181 (also referred to as DAA-GRS-2017-006-0024 / 0025), approved by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

The electronic records, data, and files are stored within FCC accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC computer network. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized SOC staff and contractors, and IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. As a further measure, access to these electronic records is restricted to the SOC staff and contractors who have a specific role in the system that requires their access to investigation information and related SOC functions. The SOC maintains an audit trail to monitor access. Furthermore, as part of these privacy and security requirements, SOC staff and contractors must complete training specific to their roles to ensure that they are knowledgeable about how to protect PII. Other FCC employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

This system of records is exempt from sections (c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), (H), and (I), and (f) of the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, and from 47 CFR Sections 0.554 – 0.557 of the Commission's rules. These provisions concern the notification, record access, and contesting procedures described above, and also the publication of record sources. The system is exempt from these provisions because it contains the following types of information:

1. Properly classified information, obtained from another Federal agency during the course of a personnel investigation, which pertains to national defense and foreign policy, as stated in Section (k)(1) of the Privacy Act;

2. Investigative material compiled for law enforcement purposes as defined in Section (k)(2) of the Privacy Act;

The FCC last gave full notice of this system of records, FCC/OMD-16, Personnel Security Files, by publication in the Federal Register on March 12, 2018 (83 FR 10721).

/OMD-17 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act Requests.

No information in the system is classified.

Office of the Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a.

The Commission’s Performance & Program Management (PPM) staff of the Office of Managing Director will collect and maintain the information in this system primarily through the FCC FOIA Case Management Solution, an online portal for filing, managing, and tracking FOIA requests and appeals and managing and tracking Privacy Act requests and appeals. Maintaining these records permits the Commission to effectively, efficiently, and appropriately process and respond to such requests and appeals. These records are also necessary for defending Commission action in litigation challenging FOIA and Privacy Act responses by the agency; for compiling mandatory reports and responses to inquiries from Congress, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The records are also used to respond to congressional inquiries from both Congressional committees and from individual members of Congress inquiring on behalf of a constituent.

The categories of individuals covered by this system include, but are not limited to individuals who submit FOIA and Privacy Act requests, or administrative appeals; FCC staff who respond to FOIA and Privacy Act requests and appeals; and individuals who are the subject of FOIA and Privacy Act requests and appeals or whose personally identifiable information is contained in records covered by this system.

The categories of records in this system include identifying information provided by FOIA and Privacy Act requesters when making FOIA or Privacy Act requests or appeals, including requesters’ names, home addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers, as well as other identifying information that may be provided by requesters in the description of their FOIA or Privacy Act requests or appeals; and the names of certain FCC staff responding to FOIA and Privacy Act requests and appeals. This system does not include any records of internal communications between FCC staff, nor any communications between the FCC and other federal agencies, nor does it contain draft correspondence to requesters or folders of documents that are responsive or potentially responsive to FOIA and Privacy Act requests.

The sources for information in this system are FOIA and Privacy requesters; attorneys or other representatives of the requesters and the subjects of the requests; and FCC staff responding to FOIA and Privacy Act requests.

1. Public Access—The FCC provides public access to FOIA requests and appeals through the FCC FOIA Case Management Solution, limited to the names of FOIA requesters, dates related to the processing of the request, and a description of the records sought by the requester (excluding any other personally identifiable information contained in the description of the records request, such as telephone numbers, home or email addresses, and Social Security Numbers). The information that will routinely be made public also may be used to create a publicly available log of requests.

2. Determinations on Access—To assist the FCC in making an access determination, a record from the system may be shared with (a) the person or entity that originally submitted the record to the agency or is the subject of the record or information; or (b) another Federal entity.

3. Litigation—To disclose records to DOJ when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

5. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal statute, law, regulation, order, or other requirement, to disclose pertinent information to appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, order, or other requirement.

6. Congressional Inquiries—To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

7. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—To provide information to DOJ to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the FOIA; or to OMB to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

8. National Archives and Records Administration—To the National Archives and Records Administration, Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), to the extent necessary to fulfill its responsibilities in 5 U.S.C. 552(h), to review administrative agency policies, procedures, and compliance with the FOIA, and to facilitate OGIS’ offering of mediation services to resolve disputes between persons making FOIA requests and administrative agencies.

9. Breach Notification—To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) The Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

10. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) Responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

11. For Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

Information in this system includes both paper and electronic records. The paper records, documents, and files are maintained in file cabinets that are located in the OMD FOIA Public Liaison’s office suite, the OMD central file room, the Office of General Counsel, and in the bureaus and offices of the FCC staff who provide the responses to FOIA/Privacy Act requests. Paper files are kept locked and access to the file room is restricted. FOIA and Privacy Act requests that are received via postal mail are scanned and are stored as electronic records by the OMD FOIA office. The electronic records, files, and data are stored in the FCC FOIA Case Management Solution and in the FCC’s or a vendor’s computer network.

Records in this system of records are most often retrieved by the control number for the request, but may be retrieved by an individual’s name, organization, or request description.

Records are retained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration’s General Records Schedule 4.2, Items 020, 040, 050, 070, and 090.

Paper records in this system are maintained in file cabinets in the FOIA Public Liaison’s office, in the Office of General Counsel, and in the bureaus and offices of the FCC staff who provide the responses to FOIA/Privacy Act requests. The file cabinets are locked at the end of the business day and access is restricted to authorized supervisors and staff who are responsible for responding to the FOIA or Privacy Act requests or appeals.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to contest information pertaining to him or her in the system of records should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

81 FR 58930 (August 26, 2016).

/OMD-18 Wireless Communications Information.

No information in the system is classified.

Information Technology (IT), Office of the Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

5 U.S.C. 301, 44 U.S.C. 3101, and 47 U.S.C. 154(i).

This system collects information related to the FCC’s wireless communications equipment, functions, and services, and the associated costs and charges for wireless communications equipment, functions, and services. The collection of the records in this system serve the following purposes:

1. Accounting for the information contained in bills for wireless communications equipment, functions, or services; and

2. Ensuring that the FCC operates efficiently and effectively, and guards against any improper uses of FCC wireless communications equipment, functions, or services.

1. FCC staff (including, but not limited to current and former employees, interns, co-op students, and volunteers) who have been issued FCC wireless communications equipment; and

2. FCC contractors who have been issued FCC wireless communications equipment.

The categories of records in the system include:

1. Records of the Commission’s wireless communications equipment, functions, and services, and the associated costs and charges, which include, but are not limited to:

a. Communications numbers (including telephone numbers, IP addresses, or other unique communications identifier(s) (e.g., International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers));

b. Time (call start and call end) and data usage from wireless communications;

c. Duration of wireless communications (lapsed time);

d. Disposition and cost of communications; and

e. FCC bureau/office to which each relevant identifying wireless communications number is assigned.

2. Type and number of FCC wireless communications devices assigned to FCC staff (employees and contractors);

3. Copies of related wireless communications and service records, including any periodic summaries which may have been compiled to reflect the total number and type of communications and related user charges, usages, and fees from wireless communications equipment assigned to FCC employees; and

4. Names and email addresses of FCC staff and contractors

5. Personal telephone numbers and personal mailing addresses for FCC staff and contractors, if voluntarily provided by those individuals.

This system does not include or maintain the contents of calls, messages, or other communications to or from FCC wireless equipment or communicated over FCC wireless services or functions.

Record source categories in this system include purchase orders; bills and other documentation associated with the usage and charges for the wireless communications, including but not limited to voice, text, and other teleconferencing services and functions (audio or video), using various equipment and devices (including, but not limited to cellular telephones, other mobile or broadband devices, and teleconferencing services (audio or video)); and individuals about whom records are maintained, as well as their supervisors and managers.

3. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal statute, law, regulation, order, or other requirement, to disclose pertinent information to appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, order, or other requirement.

5. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—To provide information to the DOJ to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under FOIA; or to OMB to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

6. Labor Relations—To officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. chapter 71 upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5 U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions.

7. Breach Notification—To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) The Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

8. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) Responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

9. Communications Providers—To a communications company providing support to permit account servicing, billing verification, and related requirements.

10. Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

1. This electronic system of records resides on the FCC’s or a third-party vendor’s accredited network.

2. The paper records, if any, are stored in file cabinets in ‘‘non-public’’ rooms in the Information Technology (IT) office suite for one year.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., the individual’s name, and/or identifying communications number.

The FCC maintains and disposes of these various telephone, fax, text, and related electronic transmission service records in this system in accordance with National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) General Records Schedule 5.5: "Mail, Printing, and Telecommunication Service Management Records."

The paper documents and files, if any, are maintained in file cabinets in ‘‘non-public’’ rooms in the IT office suite. The file cabinets are locked at the end of the business day. Access to the IT offices is via a key and card-coded door.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to contest information pertaining to him or her in the system of records should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

82 FR 13348 (March 10, 2017).

/OMD-18 Telephone Call Detail.

No information in the system is classified.

The FCC uses the personally identifiable information (PII) in this system as part of its duties and responsibilities associated with the administration of the FCC’s policies, programs, and activities concerning communications equipment, functions, and services and the related communications that originate at the Commission (using FCC telecommunications equipment), terminate at the Commission (using FCC telecommunications equipment), and/or are accepted on behalf of the FCC (e,g., collect call charges), and the associated costs and charges for these telecommunications services and equipment. The PII in this system includes but is not limited to the uses associated with:

1. Accounting for the information contained in the communications bills for these communications that originate from FCC equipment; and

2. Ensuring that the FCC operates efficiently and effectively, and guards against any improper uses of FCC telecommunications equipment.

FCC staff (including, but not limited to current and former employees, interns, co-op students, and volunteers), FCC contractors, visitors, building and maintenance staff, and/or other individuals who may send, receive, or charge communications, which include but are not limited to voice, text, facsimiles, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), teleconferencing (audio or video), and Federal Relay Service (FRS) from FCC telecommunications equipment (including, but not limited to, wireline telephones, cellular telephones and other mobile devices, video relay phones, VoIP devices, satellite telephones, and teleconferencing equipment).

1. Records of communications that originate at the Commission using FCC telecommunications equipment (originating number); that terminate at the Commission received by FCC telecommunications equipment (terminating number), and/or are accepted on behalf of the FCC (e,g., collect call charges), and the associated costs and charges for these telecommunications services and equipment, which include, but are not limited to:

a. Identifying communications numbers (including but not limited to telephone number, fax number, IP address, audio conference bridge number, or other unique communications identifier(s));

b. Time (calls start and calls end) and data usage from the communication;

c. Duration of the communication (lapsed time);

d. Disposition and cost of communications, including FRS and collect call charges;

e. FCC bureau/office to which the relevant identifying communications numbers are assigned; and

f. E-mail address of the FCC staff to which the relevant identifying communications numbers are assigned;

2. Type and number of FCC telecommunications equipment assigned to FCC staff (employees and contractors);

3. The physical location of FCC telecommunications equipment;

4. Copies of related communications and service records, including any periodic summaries which may have been compiled to reflect the total number and type of communications and related user charges, usages, and fees from FCC headquarters and facilities in Gettysburg, PA and Columbia, MD; and

5. Names of FCC staff and contractors.

The sources for information in this system include, but are not limited to the records for the usage and charges for the telecommunications that originate at the Commission (using FCC telecommunications equipment), terminate at the Commission (using FCC telecommunications equipment), and/or are accepted on behalf of the FCC (e.g., collect call charges), including but is not limited to voice, text, facsimiles, VoIP, FRS (Video Relay Services), satellite telephones, and other teleconferencing services and functions (audio or video), using various telecommunications equipment and devices (including, but not limited to wireline telephones, cellular telephones, other mobile or broadband devices, VoIP devices, satellite telephones, and teleconferencing equipment and services (audio or video)).

1. Adjudication and Litigation – To the Department of Justice (DOJ), or other administrative body before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the ligation.

2. Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, and/or local agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

3. Congressional Inquiries – To provide information to a congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that congressional office made at the request of that individual.

4. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for use in its records management inspections; to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for oversight purposes; to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

5. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by the Agency – To a Federal, State, local, foreign, tribal, or other public agency or authority maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant enforcement records, or other pertinent records, or to another public authority or professional organization, if necessary to obtain information relevant to an investigation concerning the hiring or retention of an employee or other personnel action, the issuance or retention of a security clearance, the classifying of jobs, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a license, grant, or other benefit by the requesting agency, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the requesting agency’s decisions on the matter.

6. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by Other than the Agency – To a Federal, State, local, foreign, tribal, or other public agency or authority of the fact that this system of records contains information relevant to the hiring or retention of an employee, the issuance or retention of a security clearance, the conducting of a suitability or security investigation of an individual, the classifying of jobs, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a license, grant, or other benefit by the requesting agency, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the agency’s decision on the matter. The other agency or licensing organization may then make a request supported by the written consent of the individual for the entire records if it so chooses. No disclosure will be made unless the information has been determined to be sufficiently reliable to support a referral to another office within the agency or to another Federal agency for criminal, civil, administrative, personnel, or regulatory action.

7. Labor Relations – To officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71 upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5 U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions.

8. Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government,or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

9. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities – To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the receipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

10. Telecommunications Companies – To a telecommunications company providing support to permit account servicing, billing verification, and related requirements.

11. For Non-Federal Personnel – To disclose information to contractors performing or working on a contract for the Federal Government.

The paper documents, records, files, and faxes, including but are not limited to monthly telephone bills and related documents, are stored in file cabinets in "non-public" rooms in the Information Technology (IT) office suite for one year.

The electronic files, records, and data (i.e., electronic copies of these telecommunications documents), including but not limited to monthly telephone bills and related documents, are housed in the FCC’s computer network databases

The records, including telephone calls, texts, faxes, and related transmissions and services, are retrieved by searching electronically by the individual’s name, name of the telephone call recipient, and/or identifying communications number.

The FCC maintains and disposes of these various telephone, fax, text, and related electronic transmission service records in this in accordance with General Records Schedule 12 (GRS–12) issued by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Most of the records in this system are maintained for six months to three years, although some records are kept for six years, depending upon the GRS–12 schedule requirements. The paper copy of the invoice records are destroyed after one year. All monthly telephone records (electronic copies) are sent to NARA—none are destroyed.

The disposition of the paper records is done by shredding. The electronic records are destroyed physically (electronic storage media) or by electronic erasure.

Individuals may obtain a copy of the GRS-12 Schedule at: http://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/grs/grs12.html.

The electronic records, data, and files are maintained in the FCC computer network databases, which are protected by the FCC’s IT privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Information Security Management System (FISMA). In addition, access to the information in the telephone call details electronic files databases is restricted to authorized IT supervisors and staff and to the IT contractors who maintain these computer databases. Other FCC employees and contractors may be granted access only on a "need-to-know" basis.

The paper documents and files are maintained in file cabinets in "non-public" rooms in the IT office suite. The file cabinets are locked at the end of the business day. Access to the IT offices is via a key and card-coded door.

Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity and access to records (5 CFR part 0, subpart E).

Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about them should follow the Notification Procedure above.

None

The FCC last gave full notice of this system of records, FCC/OMD-18, Telephone Call Details, by publication in the Federal Register on April 5, 2006 (71 FR 17234, 17262).

/OMD23

FCC/OMD-23, Cadapult Space Management System (CSMS).

No information in the system is classified.

Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

5 U.S.C. 301, 40 U.S.C. 468, 44 U.S.C. 3101, Executive Order 12411, Government Work Space Management Reforms, and the NTEU/FCC Basic Negotiated Agreement, Article 9, Employee Space and Facilities.

The FCC uses the information in this information system for purposes that include, but are not limited to, the allocation of the offices, workstations, facility workspaces, and hoteling workspaces for FCC employees and contractors following the FCC/NTEU space assignment policy, as well as tracking workstation occupancy, vacancy, and utilization rates; evaluating bureau and office housing and realignments based on utilization and reorganizations; and calculating and documenting FCC bureau and office rent reporting. Additionally, in the event of an emergency, OMD staff uses information from this system to devise a "Reconstitution Plan" to create the space requirements for alternative work location(s) in other buildings to be used to relocate FCC employees and/or contractors.

The categories of individuals whose records are maintained in this system include, but are not limited to, FCC employees and contractors.

The records in this system include, but are not limited to, the name, organization (bureau/office/division), pay type, grade, supervisory status, bargaining unit status, workspace requirements, workspace location (office or workstation), and work telephone number for each employee or contractor.

Sources of records in this system include FCC employees and contractor; FCC information systems and applications used in the onboarding, offboarding, and reassignment processes; and diagrams and drawings.

1. Emergency Response—A record on an individual in this system of records may be disclosed to emergency medical personnel, e.g., doctors, nurses, and/or paramedics, or to law enforcement officials in case of a medical or other emergency involving the FCC employee without the subsequent notification to the individual identified in 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(8).

2. First Responders—A record from this system of records may be disclosed to law enforcement officials, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Defense (DOD), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), White House Communications Agency (WHCA), other federal agencies, and state and local emergency response officials, e.g., fire, safety, and rescue personnel, etc., and medical personnel, e.g., doctors, nurses, and paramedics, etc., in case of an emergency situation at FCC facilities without the subsequent notification to the individual identified in 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(8).

3. Reconstitution Plan—A record from this system of records may be disclosed to the General Services Administration (GSA), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland state government agencies; and any other Federal, state, and local agencies involved in Federal agency evacuation, emergency facilities, space management, and/or relocation policies and plans, or related issues.

4. Labor Relations—A record from this system may be disclosed to officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. chapter 71 upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5 U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions.

7. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation, to disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, order, or other requirement.

8. Congressional Inquiries—To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

9. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—To DOJ to obtain that Department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to OMB to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

10. Breach Notification—To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

12. Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

This an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s or a vendor’s network.

Information in the electronic database can be retrieved by searching electronically for the FCC employee or contractor’s name, workspace location, and organizational unit, e.g., bureau/office.

The information in this electronic system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the relevant NARA records schedules, including General Records Schedule (GRS) 5.1: Common Office Records, DAA-GRS-2016-0016; and GRS 5.3: Continuity and Emergency Planning Records, DAA-GRS-2016-0004.

The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC or a vendor’s accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s or vendor’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic and paper files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; and in the case of electronic files to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), OMB, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

(75 FR 56533) (September 16, 2010).

/OMD-24 FCC/OMD-24, Physical Access Control System (PACS).

No information in the system is classified.

Security Operations Center (SOC), Office of the Managing Director (OMD), FCC, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

SOC, OMD, FCC, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

5 U.S.C. 301; Federal Information Security Management Act (44 U.S.C. 3541 et. seq.); Electronic Government Act (Pub. L. No. 107-347, sec. 203); Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 12, ‘‘Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors," (2004); Federal Property and Administrative Act of 1949, as amended (Pub. L. No. 81-152); and Department of Justice Report, ‘‘Vulnerability Assessment of Federal Facilities," (1995).

OMD uses the information in this information system for purposes that include, but are not limited to the following:

1. To ensure the safety and security of FCC facilities, systems, and information,

2. To ensure the safety and security of FCC employees, contractors, interns, and guests;

3. To verify that all people entering the FCC facilities, using FCC and Federal information resources (or accessing classified information), are authorized to do so;

4. To track and control FCC badges (PIV cards) issued to individuals entering and exiting these facilities, using FCC systems, or accessing classified information; and

5. To provide a method by which the FCC may ascertain the times each person was in these facilities.

The categories of individuals whose records are maintained in this system include, but are not limited to, individuals who require regular, on-going access to FCC facilities and information technology systems, e.g.:

1. Current FCC employees and contractors;

2. Temporary hires and day contractors;

3. Applicants for Federal employment or contract work;

4. FCC students, interns, volunteers, affiliates, and individuals formerly in these positions, e.g., retired FCC employees; and

5. Non-FCC employees who are authorized to perform or use services in FCC facilities on an on-going basis, e.g., building maintenance and cleaning employees.

This system also applies to occasional visitors or short-term guests to whom the FCC will issue temporary identification and credentials, who may include:

1. All visitors to FCC, e.g., non-FCC federal employees and contractors, students, interns, volunteers, and affiliates; and

2. Individuals authorized to perform or use services provided in FCC facilities on an infrequent basis, e.g., service and maintenance workers performing cleaning, maintenance, and repair duties in the Commission’s buildings and facilities.

The records in this system include, but are not limited to, records on those individuals to whom the FCC has issued credentials, including the following:

1. FCC employee/temporary hire database, which may include contact information and other personally identifiable information (PII) such as the following: full name (first, middle, and last names), Social Security Number (SSN), birth date, signature, image (photograph), fingerprints, hair color, eye color, height, weight, FCC telephone number, FCC Bureau/Office, FCC office/room number, personal identification number (PIN), background investigation form data and results, date the personal identity verification (PIV) card was issued and expiration dates, PIV registrar approval signature, PIV card serial number, emergency responder designation, copies of documents verifying identification or information derived from such documents (e.g., document title, document issuing authority, document number, document expiration date, other document information), national security level clearance and expiration date, computer system user name, user access and permission rights, authentication certificates, and digital signature information.

2. Contractor database, which may include contact information and other PII such as the following: first, middle, and last name, SSN, birth date, signature, image (photograph), fingerprints, hair color, eye color, height, weight, contractor company name, Federal supervisor, telephone number, FCC point of contact, FCC Bureau/Office, FCC office/room number, FCC telephone number, and FCC contractor badge number, personal identification number (PIN), background investigation form data and results, date the PIV card was issued and expiration dates, PIV registrar approval signature, PIV card serial number, emergency responder designation, copies of documents verifying identification or information derived from such documents (e.g., document title, document issuing authority, document number, document expiration date, other document information), national security level clearance and expiration date, computer system user name, user access and permission rights, authentication certificates, and digital signature information.

3. Day contractor database, which may include contact information and other PII such as the following: First and last name along with badge number, date of issuance and expiration date.

4. Visitor database, which may include contact information and other PII such as the following: first and last name, image (photograph), FCC point of contact and date of issuance.

Sources of records include individual FCC employees to whom the information applies, contractors, or applicants for employment; sponsoring agencies; former sponsoring agencies; other federal agencies; contract employers; former employees; and visitors.

5. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—To DOJ to obtain that Department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to OMB to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

6. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by the Agency—To a Federal, State, or local government maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant enforcement records, or other pertinent records, or to another public authority or professional organization, if necessary to obtain information relevant to an investigation concerning the retention of an employee or other personnel action (other than hiring), the retention of a security clearance, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a grant or other benefit.

7. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by Other Than the Agency—To a Federal, State, local, or tribal government, or other public authority of the fact that this system of records contains information relevant to the retention of an employee, the retention of a security clearance, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a license, grant, or other benefit. The other agency or licensing organization may then make a request supported by the written consent of the individual for the complete records if it so chooses. No disclosure will be made unless the information has been determined to be sufficiently reliable to support a referral to another office within the agency or to another Federal agency for criminal, civil, administrative, personnel or regulatory action.

8. Labor Relations—To officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. chapter 71 upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5 U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions.

9. National Security and Intelligence Matters—To Federal, State, local agencies, or other appropriate entities or individuals, or through established liaison channels to selected foreign government in order to enable an intelligence agency to carry out its responsibilities under the National Security Act of 1947, as amended, the CIA Act of 1949, as amended, Executive Order 12333 or any successor order, applicable to national security directives, or classified implementing procedures approved by the Attorney General and promulgated pursuant to such statutes, orders, or directives.

10. Invalid PIV Card Notification—To notify another Federal agency, when, or to verify whether, a PIV card is no longer valid.

11. Breach Notification—To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

13. Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

The electronic system of records resides on the FCC’s or a vendor’s network.

The information in the electronic database can be retrieved by searching electronically using a variety of parameters including: (1) The name of the individual; (2) Social Security Number (SSN); (3) other ID number (e.g., FCC employee, contractor, or frequent visitor badge number); or (4) PIV card serial number.

The information in this system related to individuals with FCC access cards is maintained and disposed of in accordance with NARA General Records Schedule (GRS) 5.6 Security Management Records, DAA-GRS-2021-0001; and GRS 4.2, Information Access and Protection Records, DAA-GRS-2019-0001-0002.

The electronic database is located in FCC facilities that are secured by limited access card readers. The computer servers are password-protected. Access by individuals working at guard stations is password-protected. Each person granted access to the system at guard stations must be individually authorized to use the system. FCC Information Technology backs up these files daily, which are stored in the Cloud at an alternate secure location. The security protocols and features are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), OMB, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

None.

71 FR 55787 (Sept. 25, 2006)

/OMD-25 FCC/OMD-25, Financial Operations Information Systems (FOIS).

Unclassified.

Financial Operations (FO), Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

5 U.S.C. chapter 57; 31 U.S.C. 525, 3302(e); 44 U.S.C. 3101, 3102, 3309; Debt Collection Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-365), as amended by Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-134); section 639 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 108-447); Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-208); Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-576); Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-255); Executive Order 9397; Budget and Accounting Procedures Act of 1950 (Pub. L. 81-784); section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-690), as amended by section 1002(d) of the Crime Control Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 100-647); and 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and (j).

This system collects and maintains records contained in the information systems, subsystems, databases, and paper document files of the Financial Operations organization (FO) within OMD. Collecting and maintaining this information allows staff access to documents necessary for key activities discussed in this SORN, including maintaining identity, regulatory, and financial information regarding individuals and entities doing business with the Commission, as well as information regarding the Commission’s financial and budgetary operations, programs, functions, and transactions. These various systems include, but are not limited to FCC User Registration System, Commission Registration System (CORES), Financial Operations API, Financial Operations API Cloud, the Financial Operations Administration System, Genesis and related applications (i.e., Genesis Portal, Genesis E2 WSDL, Genesis E2, and Genesis Reports), Alfresco, databases, and related FO documents and forms. Authorized FCC personnel (including authorized contract employees) use these records on a need-to-know basis to conduct the Commission financial and budgetary operations, programs, transactions, and statements, which include but are not limited to:

1. Processing and tracking payments made and monies owed from or to individuals (including FCC employees and authorized contract employees), FCC regulatees and licensees, and the FCC; and to ensure that payments by the FCC are based on a lawful official commitment and obligation of government funds, including but not limited to payments to cover administrative charges, penalties, forfeitures assessed, fees collected, services rendered, and direct loans;

2. Establishing records of "receivables" and tracking repayment status for any amount(s) claimed in the event of a debt owed to the FCC, which include but are not limited to repayment of overpayments and excess disbursements (including reimbursements and/or refunds for incorrect payments or overpayments), and other debts, advance payments, including but not limited to application processing fees, travel advances (including reimbursements authorized under the Travel Reimbursement Program covered by GSA/GOVT-3 and GSA/GOVT-4), advanced sick leave, and advanced annual leave, and withholding services from individuals who owe delinquent debt to the FCC or an FCC component, including billing and collection of bad checks;

3. Developing reports of taxable income using the records of payments and uncollectible debts that are provided to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and applicable State and local taxing officials;

4. Tracking overdue and delinquent federal debts for debt collection purposes;

5. Initiating and completing computer matching to verify benefit and payment eligibility under relevant related Federal Government systems such as, but not limited to Treasury’s "Do Not Pay" portal verification system, the GSA Excluded Parties and Debarment List, and the Department of Justice Drug Debarment Roster in connection with implementation of section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1998;

6. Populating FCC forms, which include but are not limited to Forms 44 and 45, the 159 series, 160 and 161, and 1064, and other financial and budgetary forms and related documents and records, which are used to carry out these various financial, accounting, and budgetary activities, functions, and purposes;

7. Providing the viewing function for images of auction loans that the FCC has made to customers, to provide them access to their loan payment history (retained for historical purposes); and

8. Storing the information that the Department of Justice (DOJ) exchanges with the FCC in connection with the implementation of section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.

1. FCC staff, including but not limited to employees (including interns), and contractors and vendors, who handle information in the FCC’s financial and budgetary operations, which include but are not limited to FO’s programs, processes, activities, and functions;

2. Individuals and representatives of entities who register with the FCC to receive a FCC Registration Number (FRN) to conduct business with the Commission; and

3. Individuals who intend to or do conduct business with the FCC as a regulatee, licensee, contractor, or vendor and who are listed on the Drug Debarment Roster (as a result of drug convictions for the distribution or possession of controlled substances) who have been denied all Federal benefits as part of their sentence pursuant to section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, and who have filed application(s) for any FCC professional or commercial license(s) and/or authorization(s).

1. FCC employees (including interns)—individual’s name, Social Security number (SSN), home address, phone number, bank account data, and miscellaneous monies received by the Commission (including, but not limited to reimbursement(s) authorized under the Travel Reimbursement Program covered by the government-wide system of records GSA/GOVT-3 and GSA/GOVT-4, and related financial requirements);

2. Independent contractors—individual’s name and SSN (required when the fee exceeds the minimum $600.00 threshold authorized by IRS Form 1099);

3. Individuals and representatives of entities who register to do business with the FCC and receive a FCC Registration Number (FRN)—individual’s name, address(es), SSN, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), telephone number(s), fax number(s), email address(es), records of services rendered, loan payment information, forfeitures assessed and collected, billing and collection of bad checks, bank deposit information, transaction type information, United States Treasury deposit data (notification of completion of FCC financial transactions with the U.S. Treasury), and information substantiating fees collected, refunds issues, and interest, penalties, and administrative charges assessed to individuals.

4. Individuals on the DOJ’s Drug Debarment List—individual’s name, DOJ identification number (ID) (for the person denied Federal benefits), ITIN, starting and ending date of the denial of Federal benefits, address, zip code, and (if required by the FCC application) birthdate, and confirmation report for DOJ matching; (Upon such a match, the FCC will initiate correspondence with the applicant, which will also be associated with the application. The confirmation report and any correspondence with the applicant will be among the records found in this system.); and

5. FCC Forms which include, but are not limited to, Forms 44 and 45; the 159 series; 160 and 161; 1064, and other related financial and/or budgetary forms, assessments, and related documents.

Information in this system is provided by the following individuals: FCC employees (including interns), contractor employees, and individuals or representatives of entities who register to do business with the FCC, and the information obtained from the Federal Drug Debarment List database(s).

1. Public Access—FCC Registration Numbers (FRNs) and certain information (excluding security/sensitive information) provided by individuals and representatives who register to do business with the Commission by obtaining an FRN are routinely made public. Individuals who have so registered also can use the Commission’s automated reporting tools to access their own nonpublic information, which includes but is not limited to Regulatory Fees, fines, forfeitures, penalties, Debt Collection Improvement Act and other administrative changes, and related payments and assessments, and to determine the amount(s) owed.

2. Drug Debarment List—Records from CORES may be matched against the Department of Justice Drug Debarment List, and any results (not including the DOJ ID Number) and any correspondence with the applicant regarding this match will be associated with the FCC applicant for a license or authorization or recipient of FCC funds, and thus be made routinely available (with redactions for date of birth and Social Security number) for public inspection as part of the applicant’s or recipient’s file within the relevant FCC system.

3. " Pay.gov " System—The name and address of individuals may be disclosed to the Department of the Treasury to facilitate the collection of any fees owed to the FCC when an individual chooses to pay online using the Treasury’s Pay.gov system.

4. Compliance with Welfare Reform Requirements—Names, Social Security numbers, home addresses, dates of birth, dates of hire, quarterly earnings, employer identifying information, and State of hire of employees may be disclosed to the Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services for the purposes of locating individuals to establish paternity, establishing and modifying orders of child support, identifying sources of income, and for other child support enforcement actions as required by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act.

5. Department of Treasury—Records may be disclosed to the U.S. Department of the Treasury when disclosure of the information is relevant to review payment and award eligibility through the Do Not Pay Working System for the purposes of identifying, preventing, or recouping improper payments to an applicant for, or recipient of, Federal funds, including funds disbursed by a state (meaning a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a federally recognized Indian tribe) in a state-administered, federally funded program.

6. Financial Obligations Under the Debt Collection Acts and "Do Not Pay"—Records may be disclosed to other Federal agencies (including the Treasury Department, Bureau of Public Debt, and its authorized contractors) for the purpose of collecting and reporting on delinquent debts as authorized by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, as amended, and to prevent improper payment and to verify payment eligibility using Treasury’s "Do Not Pay" (DNP) system and effecting payments. Records may also be disclosed to the Treasury Department and its contractors, pursuant to a DNP computer matching agreement between the FCC and Treasury for purposes authorized by 31 U.S.C. 3321, if the matching program requires data from this system of records, and to the Treasury Department and the Department of Justice, and their representatives and contractors, to report the results of debt collection or debt compromise to prepare necessary Federal, State, or local income and tax reporting records and reports (e.g., IRS Form 1099). A record from this system also may be disclosed to any Federal, State, Tribal, or local agency to conduct an authorized computer matching program to identify and locate individuals who are delinquent in their repayment of certain debts owed to the U.S. Government. A record from this system may be used to prepare information on items included, but not limited to, income assessments required for taxation or other purposes to be disclosed to Federal (i.e., IRS), State, and local governments.

7. Financial Obligations as Required by the National Finance Center (USDA), et al.—Records may be disclosed to the National Finance Center (the FCC’s authorized payroll office), the Department of the Treasury Debt Management Services, and/or a current employer for financial obligations that include, but are not limited to those that effect a salary, IRS tax refund, tax or other debt liabilities of State, Municipality, or other government agencies and entities, or administrative offsets necessary to satisfy an indebtedness; and to Federal agencies to identify and locate former employees for the purposes of collecting such indebtedness, including through administrative, salary, or tax refund offsets. Identifying and locating former employees, and the subsequent referral to such agencies for offset purposes, may be accomplished through authorized computer matching programs, following procedures required by the Debt Collection Act of 1982, the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, and the computer matching provisions of the Privacy Act.

8. Litigation—Records may be disclosed to the DOJ when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

9. Adjudication—Records may be disclosed in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

10. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, local, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, order, or other compulsory obligation.

11. Congressional Inquiries—Information may be provided to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of the individual to whom the information pertains.

12. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—Records may be disclosed to the DOJ to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

13. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by the Agency—Records may be disclosed to a Federal, State, local, foreign, Tribal, or other public agency or authority maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant enforcement records, or other pertinent records, or to another public authority or professional organization, if necessary to obtain information relevant to an investigation concerning the hiring or retention of an employee or other personnel action, the issuance or retention of a security clearance, the classifying of jobs, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a license, grant, or other benefit by the requesting agency, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the requesting agency’s decisions on the matter.

14. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by Other than the Agency—Records may be disclosed to a Federal, State, local, foreign, Tribal, or other public agency or authority of the fact that this system of records contains information relevant to the hiring or retention of an employee, the issuance or retention of a security clearance, the conducting of a suitability or security investigation of an individual, the classifying of jobs, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a license, grant, or other benefit by the requesting agency, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the agency's decision on the matter. The other agency or licensing organization may then make a request supported by the written consent of the individual for the entire records if it so chooses. No disclosure will be made unless the information has been determined to be sufficiently reliable to support a referral to another office within the agency or to another Federal agency for criminal, civil, administrative, personnel, or regulatory action.

15. Labor Relations—Records may be disclosed to officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71 upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5 U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions.

16. Federal Labor Relations Authority—Records may disclosed to the Federal Labor Relations Authority when requested in connection with investigations of allegations of unfair labor practices or matters before the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP).

17. Merit Systems Protection Board—Records may be disclosed to officials of the Merit Systems Protection Board or the Office of the Special Counsel, when requested in connection with appeals, special studies of the civil service and other merit systems, review of the FCC rules and regulations, investigations of alleged or possible prohibited personnel practices, and such other functions, e.g., as promulgated in 5 U.S.C. 1205 and 1206, or as may be authorized by law.

18. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)—Records may be disclosed to the EEOC when requested in connection with investigations into alleged or possible discrimination practices in the Federal sector, compliance by Federal agencies with the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures or other functions vested in the Commission and to otherwise ensure compliance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 7201.

19. Statistical/Analytical Studies—Records may be used to provide to Congress and OMB summary descriptive statistics and analytical studies in support of the financial and budgetary functions for which the records are collected and maintained, or for related FCC studies and reports. While published studies do not contain individual identifiers, in some instances the selection of elements of data included in the study may be structured in such a way as to make the data individually identifiable by inference.

20. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission's efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

21. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or Federal entity when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

22. Non-Federal Personnel—Records may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

Information in this system is maintained as follows:

1. The electronic data, records, and files reside on the FCC’s network or on an FCC vendor’s network;

2. The DOJ maintains the Drug Debarment data at its facilities and transfers the Drug Debarment data files to the FCC under the terms of the matching agreement. These files are immediately discarded by the FCC after being loaded into the secure database on the FCC's computer network; and

3. Paper documents, including printouts and other related materials, records, and files are stored in the FO office suite and at a FCC authorized contractors.

1. Records in the financial and budgetary (electronic and paper) system of records can be retrieved by category field, e.g., the individual’s name(s), the type of transaction, call sign, processing number, SSN, ITIN, FRN, vendor code, fee control number, payment ID number, and/or sequential number.

2. Records in the DOJ Drug Debarment (electronic) system of records are retrieved and matched between CORES and that database (primarily using name and ITIN or name and zip code or additional data elements but also by address, date of birth, or other data elements obtained from the DOJ Drug Debarment database).

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Records Schedule N1-173-00-001, Commission Registration System (CORES).

The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC’s or a vendor’s accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s or vendor’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), OMB, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Paper records (generally only Form 1876 and occasional print outs, as needed) are stored in secured cabinets in the Financial Office.

Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about them should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to contest information pertaining to him or her in the system of records should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

88 FR 81411 (Nov. 22, 2023).

/OMD-29 FCC/OMD-29, Motor Vehicle Management Program (MVMP)

Unclassified.

Administrative Service Center (ASC), Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554 and FCC facilities and field offices.

Administrative Services Center (ASC), Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554.

5 U.S.C. 5733; 31 U.S.C. 1344, 1349; 5 CFR Part 930, Subpart A; 41 CFR Part 102-5; 41 CFR 102-34.200, 34.220, 301-70.101(a).

The FCC’s Motor Vehicle Management Program (MVMP) is used to ensure that the Commission has an efficient, economical, and safe vehicle transportation program for Commission officials and staff, which is available to meet the FCC’s mission requirements. The personally identifiable information (PII) in the MVMP system includes, but is not limited to the information that is contained in the forms, databases, and other, related information and materials associated with the MVMP, which include:

1. Information that includes, but is not limited to state drivers’ licensing, certification, and related records that are used to verify that FCC headquarters contract drivers (e.g., chauffeur services) and FCC employees (authorized and/or required to use FCC or leased vehicles to perform their job duties) meet applicable state licensing and the Federal operating requirements that authorize use of Federal government owned/leased vehicles, as required by 5 CFR Sections 930.109 and 930.110.

2. Health, fitness, and driving records, and related information that include, but are not limited to meeting requirements to ensure that FCC employees and contractors meet the requisite driving and fitness standards, which include, but are not limited to ensuring that they are physically capable of operating motor vehicles; maintaining good driving records; and participating in driver safety training.

3. FCC vehicles and related operating and maintenance records and related information that include, but are not limited to the operation, maintenance, damages, repairs, losses, and associated functions and activities of the FCC owned and/or leased vehicles and related equipment to ensure that vehicles are only used for official FCC purposes and to guard against the misuse, abuse, and/or unauthorized use (e.g., personal use) by employees (including the Enforcement Bureau’s field operations staff) and contractors;

4. Criminal, accident, and traffic citations, and related vehicular usage records, that include, but are not limited to emergencies, traffic and police reports, and related information about accidents, insurance claims, and damages that the FCC provides to the Office of General Counsel (OGC) as required; corrective actions required under 5 CFR Section 930.113 including, but not limited to situations resulting from improper use of a FCC owned/leased vehicle by an employee or contractor such as intoxication, accidents, disqualification to operate a motor vehicle due to physical, mental, emotional, or similar conditions, and/or revoked/suspended driver’s license;

5. Information related to temporary usage of a vehicle by a FCC employee or contractor or non-FCC individual (i.e., individuals who are participating in FCC-related activities and functions) in special circumstances limited to emergencies threatening loss of life or property.

6. Vehicle usage records that include, but are not limited to, FCC employees authorized or who volunteer to use their own vehicles on a reimbursable basis for official, job-related functions.

The categories of individuals in this system include, but are not limited to:

1. FCC officials and employees authorized to use FCC motor vehicles for job duties (e.g., field work); authorized to use FCC owned and/or leased vehicles on infrequent or periodic basis; and/or who use personal motor vehicles (for reimbursement) for official, work-related out of town trips;

2. Authorized contract drivers at FCC headquarters (i.e., chauffeur services);

3. FCC officials, employees, and contractors, and non-FCC individuals (i.e., individuals who are participating in FCC-related activities) at Headquarters and/or FCC Field Offices who may use FCC motor vehicles on a temporary basis in emergencies, safety of life situation(s), and/or damaged property situations; passengers in FCC owned or leased vehicle, including visitors to the FCC and other government officials or employees, for "official business" with the FCC; and/or are involved in traffic accidents with FCC vehicles; and

4. Traffic officials and police, accident witnesses, vehicle drivers and passengers, and pedestrians whose information is contained in accident reports.

The categories of records in this system include, but are not limited to the information concerning:

1. Driver’s physical fitness records that include, but are not limited to the driver’s full name, date of birth, position title, home address, employing agency, physical limitations and current status (as applicable), vision and hearing current status, certifying official, and date.

2. Driving records that include, but are not limited to state driver/operator license data including, but not limited to license type: operator, chauffeur, and other, issue/expiration dates, restrictions, road test data, defensive driving courses, traffic violations (except parking), suspensions, and/or accidents, and signature and date.

3. Accident and associated damage, injury, and death reporting records that include, but are not limited to police motor vehicle accident reports, drivers’ information, witnesses’ information, home and business addresses, home and office telephone numbers, account of traffic accident’s date, time, location, injured and/or deceased individuals, private property and government property damages, insurance claim(s), traffic case number(s), government vehicles and private vehicles trip and accident details, accident diagram(s), and signatures and dates.

4. Motor vehicle dispatch, trip request, and fiscal year vehicle operations records that include, but are not limited to vehicle trip and maintenance data including but not limited to passengers and signatures, trip dates, departure/return times, destination/nature of trips, vehicle fuel and maintenance records, odometer readings, credit card purchases, and driver’s instructions, notes, and signature. The MVMP uses a commercial software application to manage these records.

The sources for the information in the MVMP system include, but are not limited to FCC Forms A-45, A-45-A, A-344, FCC Fiscal Year Motor Vehicle Operations Report, FCC Vehicle Request Form, Vehicle Dispatch Record, FCC Driver’s Past Performance Record, FCC Request for a Private Vehicle, Federal Forms SF 91, SF 94, SF 95, OF-345, FOH-6 ME 0426, and associated state motor vehicle records, and licensing and certification documents and forms; police and transportation safety officials’ reports and forms detailing safety, emergency, and/or accident information and related vehicular data and activities with associated forms, certifications, exhibits, and authorizations concerning the operation of FCC vehicles.

1. Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or to other administrative or adjudicative body before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC have agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or have an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

2. Law Enforcement and Investigations – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, and/or local agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

4. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To disclose information to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for use in its records management inspections; to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for oversight purposes; to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

5. Contract Services, Grants, or Cooperative Agreements – To disclose information to FCC contractors, grantees, or volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity. Recipients shall be required to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a.

6. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by the FCC – To disclose information to a Federal, State, local, tribal, or other public agency or authority maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant enforcement records, or other pertinent records, or to another public authority or professional organization, if necessary to obtain information relevant to an investigation concerning the hiring or retention of an employee or other personnel action, the issuance or retention of a license, grant, or other benefit by the Commission, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the requesting agency’s decisions on the matter.

7. For Certain Disclosures to Other Federal Agencies – To disclose information to a Federal agency, in response to its request in connection with the hiring or retention of an employee, the issuance of a security clearance, the conducting of a suitability or security investigation of an individual, the classifying of jobs, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant, or other benefit by the requesting agency, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the requesting agency's decision on the matter.

8. Labor Relations – To officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71 upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5 U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting conditions of employment.

9. Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

10. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities – To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

Reporting to a Consumer Reporting Agency:

In addition to the routine uses listed above, the Commission may share information from this system of records with a consumer reporting agency regarding an individual who has not paid a valid and overdue debt owed to the Commission, following the procedures set out in the Debt Collection Act, 31 U.S.C. 3711(e).

The information in the MVMP system includes electronic data, records, and files that are stored in the FCC’s computer network databases; and paper documents, records, and files that are stored in file cabinets in the ASC office suite and in the EB office suite and field offices.

Information in the electronic MVMP databases and the paper documents and files can be retrieved by the driver’s name.

The FCC maintains and disposes of these records in accordance with the requirements of General Records Schedule (GRS) 5.4 issued by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), under the following Disposition Authorities:

Item 010: DAA-GRS-2016-0011-0001: Facility, space, vehicle, equipment, stock, and supply administrative and operational records;

Item 030: DAA-GRS-2016-0011-0003: Vehicle and equipment ownership records and operation manual;

Item 040: DAA-GRS-2016-0011-0004: Excess personal property, equipment, and vehicle records;

Item 090: DAA-GRS-2016-0011-0011: Land vehicle and water vessel inspection, maintenance, and service records;

Item 110: DAA-GRS-2016-0011-0014: Vehicle and heavy equipment operator records; and

Item 140: DAA-GRS-2016-0011-0017: Vehicle and vessel accident and incident records.

The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC accreditation boundaries. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized ASC supervisors, employees, and contractors in the Office of Managing Director; the supervisors, employees, and contractors in EB and OGC; and the IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the networks and services. Other FCC employees, contractors, vendors, and users may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The records in the FCC's computer network are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

The paper documents are maintained in file cabinets that are located in the ASC, EB, OGC, and OMD office suites. Access to the file cabinets in these office suites is through a card-coded main door. The file cabinets are locked at the end of the day, or when not in use. Access to these files is restricted to authorized ASC, EB, OGC, and OMD supervisors, employees, and contractors.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about them should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about them should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records contains information about them may do so by writing to Leslie F. Smith, Privacy Manager, Information Technology, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, or email Leslie.Smith@fcc.gov and following the procedures set forth in the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity and access to records, 47 CFR Part 0, Subpart E.

None.

This is a new system of records.

/OMD-30 FCC Visitors Database.

Unclassified.

Security Operations Center (SOC), Office of the Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L St NE, Washington, DC 20554.

SOC, OMD, FCC, 45 L St NE, Washington, DC 20554.

5 U.S.C. 301; 6 U.S.C. 202; 8 U.S.C. 1103, 1158, 1201, 1324, 1357, 1360, 1365a, 1365b, 1372, 1379, 1732; National Defense Authorization Act for FY 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-106, sec. 5113); E- Government Act of 2002 (Pub. L. No. 107-347, sec. 203); and Federal Property and Administrative Act of 1949, as amended (Pub. L. No. 81-152).

The purpose of the system is to cover the personally identifiable information (PII) that all visitors to the FCC, including but not limited to U.S. citizens, permanent residents (i.e., green card holders), and foreign nationals, must provide to the FCC’s SOC to gain admittance to the FCC headquarters buildings and other FCC facilities.

The records in this system include all visitors to the FCC. These individuals include, but are not limited to U.S. citizens, permanent residents (i.e., green card holders), and foreign nationals.

The categories of records in the FCC Visitors Database may include, but are not limited, to the individual’s first and last name, photographic identification (including but not limited to a driver’s license, passport, or other types of photo identification), the authority issuing the photo identification, U.S. visa number, FCC point of contact, visitor signature, professional title, organizational affiliation, contact information for the visitor, including but not limited to wireline or wireless (cell) phone numbers, correspondence related to information required to obtain visitor entry to the FCC, and purpose(s) for visiting the FCC.

The sources for information in this system are the visitors themselves and/ or their agency or organizational sponsor(s) who have been invited to or have requested admittance to the FCC headquarters buildings and other FCC facilities for the visitors.

Information about individuals in this system of records may routinely be disclosed under the following conditions: 1. Litigation—To disclose records to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in their official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in their individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation.

2. Adjudication—To disclose records in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in their official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in their individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation.

4. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

5. Congressional Inquiries—To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from the Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

6. Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

7. Breach Notification—To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

The information in the FCC Visitors Database includes electronic records, files, and electronic records, files, and data that are stored in the FCC’s computer network databases.

The information in the FCC Visitors Database may be retrieved by the name of the individual, driver’s license number, U.S. passport number, foreign passport number, U.S. visa number, date of birth (DOB), and/or photo ID number.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to contest information pertaining to him or her in the system of records should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

77 FR 31851 (May 30, 2012).

/OMD-31 Private or Civil Injury Claimants.

Unclassified.

Office of the Managing Director (OMD) and Office of General Counsel (OGC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Washington, D.C. 20554.

28 U.S.C. 1346(b), 1402(b), 2401(b), 2671 et seq.; 31 U.S.C. 3711; Military Personnel and Civilian Employees’ Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. 3721.

Individuals in this system include, but are not limited to, any individuals who are claimants under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), or the Military Personnel and Civilian Employees’ Claims Act, or who assert a tort claim against an FCC employee.

(a)

Individuals filing such claims;

(b)

Individuals who are the subjects of such claims;

(c)

Attorneys or representatives of the claimants and the subjects of the claims;

(d)

Communication between FCC bureaus and offices (B/Os); and

(e)

Investigative materials and related documentation and decisions involved in appeals, amendments, and litigation concerning such claims.

Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or to other administrative or adjudicative bodies before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC have agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, local, or tribal agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To disclose information to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for use in its records management inspections; to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for oversight purposes (including determinations concerning relief of accountable personnel from liability for losses of public funds and related fiscal matters); to the U.S. Treasury to disburse payment determination information to pay a claimant once the compensation decision has been reached; to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities – To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

For Non-Federal Personnel – To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, i.e., contractors, performing or working on a contract in connection with private or civil injury claims and/or IT services for the Federal Government, who may require access to this system of records.

Non-FCC Individuals and Organizations – To disclose information to individuals, including former FCC employees, and organizations, in the course of an investigation to the extent necessary to obtain information pertinent to the investigation.

REPORTING TO A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY:

Information in this system includes both paper and electronic records. The paper records, documents, and files are maintained in file cabinets that are located in OMD and OGC, and in the bureaus and offices (B/Os) of the FCC staff who provide the responses to such claims. The electronic records, files, and data are stored in the FCC’s computer network.

Records are retrieved by the name of the individual who filed the private or civil injury claims.

Records are retained and disposed of in accordance with the agency records control schedule N1-173-91-001, Item 6, approved by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

The FCC's electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Paper records (e.g., SF Form 95 and related claims’ documents and materials) are kept in file cabinets in the OMD and OGC office suites. The file cabinets containing these paper records are maintained in non-public rooms in the OMD, OGC, and B/O suites. The file cabinets are locked at the end of the day, or when not in use. Access to these office suites is through card-coded doors. The access points to these offices are also monitored. Only authorized OMD, OCG, and B/O supervisors and staff who are responsible for responding to these claims have access to these paper records. Other FCC employees and contractors in other B/Os may be granted access as required, on a temporary or limited basis for specific purposes related to the private or civil injury claim processes. The same storage and security measures apply to these loaned documents.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about them should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity to gain access to records as required under 47 CFR Part 0, Subpart E.

None.

The FCC previously gave full notice of FCC/OMD-31, Private or Civil Injury Claimants (formerly: FCC/OGC-6, Private or Civil Injury Claimants), by publication in the Federal Register on April 5, 2006 (71 Fed. Reg. 17234, 17245).

/OMD-32

FCC/OMD-32, FCC Telework Program

Unclassified.

Human Resources Management (HRM), Office of Managing Director (OMD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

5 U.S.C. 5711; 5 U.S.C. 6501–6506; 5 U.S.C. 6501 note; 5 U.S.C. 6120 note.

The FCC Telework Program provides employees with the voluntary opportunity to work from home or another FCC approved telework location. The FCC uses the information in this system to manage the telework program, including conducting and audits and reports.

Current and former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) staff, including employees and interns.

The records in this system contain personally identifiable information from employees including employment information such as title, grade, series, bureau or office, supervisory chain; work contact information; alternate worksite information, including address and contact information at an alternate worksite; and justification documentation for requests for long-distance or fulltime telework that describe a temporary employee hardship.

This system of records includes information provided by an individual on whom the record is maintained, and supervisors and managers.

FCC Program Management – To FCC’s HRM and supervisory staff as part of their duties associated with the management and operation of the FCC Telework Program. This information may be used to conduct audits, evaluations, and/or investigations of the telework program to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse; ensure compliance with program and FCC policies and procedures; and inform future program development and implementation. This information may be shared with the Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Labor Relations – To officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71 consistent with provisions in an effective collective bargaining agreement or upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5 U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions.

General Services Administration (GSA) – To GSA when FCC employees use a GSA approved alternate worksite for purposes such as security regulations, facilities management (including facility space allocation and management requirements, staffing requirements, and related work-space arrangements), and/or other GSA function(s); or when an emergency at the FCC headquarters and/or FCC facilities requires FCC employees to relocate to a GSA approved alternate worksite(s).

U.S. Department of Labor – To the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for telework labor management issues, including worker’s compensation and workplace safety issues.

Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act; or to the Office of Personnel Management for its government-wide oversight of telework.

Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, local, or tribal agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or to other administrative or adjudicative bodies before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) The FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC have agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) The Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of data maintained in the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

10.

Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities —To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) Responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

11.

For Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, i.e., contractors, performing or working on a contract in connection with human resources management and/or IT services for the Federal Government, who may require access to this system of records.

Disclosure to consumer reporting agencies:

The information pertaining to the FCC Telework Program includes electronic records, files, and data and paper documents, records, and files. HRM manage these electronic data and paper document files:

1. The electronic data will be stored in the computer files housed in the FCC’s computer network.

2. The paper records are scanned and uploaded to the electronic system before being destroyed.

The records may be retrieved by various identifiers, including the individual’s name or bureau or office.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) established records schedule number DAA–GRS–2018–0002–004 for telework/alternate worksite program case files. In accordance with this records schedule, the FCC will maintain information in this system of records until superseded or obsolete, or one year after the end of an employee’s participation in the program, whichever is sooner, or longer if required for business use.

The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s computer network databases. Access to the

electronic files is restricted to authorized supervisors and managers; OMD employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other FCC employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The FCC’s electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The paper records are scanned and uploaded to the electronic system before being destroyed.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

None.

The FCC previously gave full notice of FCC/OMD–32, FCC Telework Program by publication in the Federal Register on March 26, 2015 (80 FR 16007).

/OMD-33 Ensuring Workplace Health and Safety in Response to a Public Health Emergency.

Unclassified.

This system is maintained by the Office of the Managing Director in the Commission's Headquarters at 45 L Street N.E., Washington, DC 20554.

The system manager is the Managing Director located in the Commission's Headquarters at 45 L Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20554.

The authority to collect this information derives from General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. § 654), Executive Order 12196, Occupational safety and health programs for Federal employees (Feb. 26, 1980), Executive Order 13991, Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing, OMB Memorandum M 21-15, COVID-19 Safe Federal Workplace: Agency Model Safety Principles (Jan. 24, 2021), and the National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2017 (5 U.S.C. § 6329c(b)). Information will be collected and maintained in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 791 et seq.).

The information in the system is collected to assist the FCC with maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and to protect FCC staff and visitors working on-site from risks associated with a public health emergency (as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and declared by its Secretary), such as a pandemic or epidemic. To that end, the FCC may develop and institute additional safety measures in response to a public health emergency. These measures may include instituting activities such as requiring FCC staff and visitors to provide information before being allowed access to an FCC facility, medical screening, and contact tracing. Contact tracing conducted by FCC staff may involve collecting information about FCC staff and visitors who are exhibiting symptoms or who have tested positive for an infectious disease in order to identify and notify other FCC staff and visitors with whom they may have come into contact and who may have been exposed within an FCC facility. Moreover, the FCC will use contact tracing data to submit required reports to local public health officials, in accordance with local public health mandates.

Individuals covered by this system include FCC staff (e.g., political appointees, employees, detailees, contractors, consultants, interns, and volunteers) and visitors to a FCC facility during a public health emergency, such as a pandemic or epidemic.

This system maintains information collected about FCC staff and visitors accessing or requesting access to FCC facilities during a public health emergency, including a pandemic or epidemic. It maintains biographical information collected about FCC staff and visitors such as their name, contact information, whether they are in a high-risk category or provide dependent care for individuals in a high-risk category, and recent travel. It maintains health information collected about FCC staff and visitors to a FCC facility, that may include temperature checks, expected or confirmed test results, dates, symptoms, potential or actual exposure to a pathogen, immunizations and vaccination information, or other medical history related to the treatment of a pathogen or communicable disease that is identified as part of a public health emergency. It maintains information collected about FCC staff and visitors to FCC facilities necessary to conduct contact tracing that may include the dates and which facility they visited, the locations that they visited within the facility (e.g., office and cubicle number), the duration of time spent in the facility, whether they may have potentially come into contact with a contagious person while visiting the facility, travel dates and locations, and a preferred contact number.

The information in this system is collected in part directly from the individual or from FCC management officials requesting access to an FCC facility on a person’s behalf. Information is also collected from security systems monitoring access to FCC facilities, such as video surveillance and turnstiles, human resources systems, emergency notification systems, and federal, state, and local agencies assisting with the response to a public health emergency. Information may also be collected from property management companies responsible for managing office buildings, including parking garages, that house FCC facilities.

To Federal, State, or local public health agencies to the extent necessary to comply with laws and regulations governing reporting of infectious disease;

To the FCC staff member’s emergency contact for purposes of locating a staff member during a public health emergency or to communicate that the FCC staff member may have potentially been exposed to an infectious disease as the result of a pandemic or epidemic while visiting a FCC facility;

To a court or adjudicative body in a proceeding when: (a) The Commission or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the Commission in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the Commission in his or her individual capacity where the Commission has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation;

To the appropriate Federal, State, or local authorities where there is an indication of a violation or potential violation of a statute, regulation, rule, or order either for purposes of obtaining additional information relevant to a FCC decision or for referring the record for investigation, enforcement, or prosecution by another agency;

To a Congressional office when in response to an inquiry by an individual made to the Congressional office for the individual’s own records;

To provide information to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act; or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when (1) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records, (2) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (3) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm; or

To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system of records is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in (1) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (2) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to Individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

To disclose information to third parties, including contractors, performing or working on a contract in connection with providing services for the Federal Government, who may require access to this system of records.

Records in this system of records are stored electronically or on paper in secure facilities. Electronic records are stored on the Commission’s secure network.

Information covered by this system of records notice may be retrieved by the name of the individual.

FCC will work with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to draft and secure approval of a records disposition schedule to cover the records described in this SORN. Until this records disposition schedule is approved by NARA, FCC will maintain, and not destroy, these records.

Records are protected from unauthorized access and improper use through administrative, technical, and physical security measures. Technical security safeguards within FCC include restrictions on computer access to authorized individuals who have a legitimate need to know the information; required use of strong passwords that are frequently changed; multi-factor authentication for remote access and access to many FCC network components; use of encryption for certain data types and transfers; firewalls and intrusion detection applications; and regular review of security procedures and best practices to enhance security. Physical safeguards include restrictions on building access to authorized individuals, 24-hour security guard service, and maintenance of records in lockable offices and filing cabinets.

Individuals seeking to determine whether this system of records contains information about themselves or seeking access to records about themselves in this system of records should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals contesting the content of records about themselves contained in this system of records should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals seeking notification of any records about themselves contained in this system of records should address inquiries to Margaret Drake at privacy@fcc.gov or Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554. Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity and access to records (47 CFR Part 0, Subpart E).

None.

fcc/pshsb-1 FCC/PSHSB-1, FCC Emergency and Continuity Alerts and Contacts System (ECACS)

Unclassified.

Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20554.

Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Executive Order 12472, Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Telecommunications Functions, April 3, 1984, as amended February 28, 2003 and June 26, 2006; Presidential Decision Directive 67, Enduring Constitutional Government and Continuity of Government Operations, October 21, 1998; Homeland Security Act of 2002, 6 U.S.C. 101 et seq., November 25, 2002; National Security Presidential Directive 51/Homeland Security Presidential Directive 20, National Continuity Policy, May 9, 2007; National Communications System Directive 3-10, Minimum Requirements for Continuity Communications Capabilities, July 25, 2007; National Continuity Policy Implementation Plan, Homeland Security Council, August 2007; Federal Continuity Directive 1, Federal Executive Branch National Continuity Program and Requirements, February 2008; Federal Continuity Directive 2, Federal Executive Branch Mission Essential Function and Primary Mission Essential Function Identification and Submission Process, February 2008.

The FCC uses the records in this system to:

1. Respond to and coordinate activities such as emergencies and crisis management actions, responses, and related functions, including contacting FCC staff and their designated emergency contacts and using an automated telephone, text, and e-mail system;

2. Manage and maintain the contact and response system for FCC staff for coordinating Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) actions and related functions;

3. Conduct voluntary surveys evaluating the effectiveness of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and other related emergency notification systems, functions, and activities.

The categories of individuals in this system include:

FCC staff and their designated emergency contacts.

Federal Government contacts; State, Tribal, Territorial, Local Government and private sector contacts; and individuals representing institutions, organizations, and other groups engaged in crisis management and emergency preparedness functions, activities, and actions.

FCC staff who are members of the Bureau and Office (B/O) Emergency Response Group (ERG), Devolution Emergency Response Group (DERG), and FCC and B/O lines of succession.

Individuals who volunteer to participate in PSHSB surveys for WEA.

The records in this system include personal and business contact information, such as phone number, fax number, e-mail address, physical address. Records also include survey information, such as the individual respondents’ identification numbers, e-mail addresses, street addresses (street, city, state, and zip code) at the location that the individual responds to the survey, and other information that PSHSB will collect, such as the type of device, operating system, and wireless service provider.

FCC employees and contractors, Federal Government, State, Tribal, Territorial, Local Government, and private sector contacts representing institutions and organizations with crisis management and emergency preparedness functions, as well as survey respondents’ inputs transmitted through their wireless devices, or through other means of communication.

In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under section 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, all or a portion of the records or information contained in this system may be disclosed to authorized entities, as is determined to be relevant and necessary, outside the FCC, as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552a(b)(3) as follows.

FCC Program Management – A record from this system may be accessed and used by the FCC’s Office of Managing Director or supervisory staff in their duties associated with the management and operation of a safe workplace. This information may be used to notify staff and their designated emergency contacts of an emergency situation involving the FCC or a staff member.

Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or to a court or adjudicative body before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC have agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or have an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, and/or local agency, or component of an agency, such as the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

Government-Wide Program Management and Oversight – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

Labor Relations – To officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. 71 upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5 U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions.

Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with Commission efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

10.

Test Partners – To PSHSB’s test partner entities, including other federal agencies, who help plan, conduct, and analyze the results of tests used to evaluate the effectiveness of WEA.

REPORTING TO A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY:

In addition to the routine uses listed above, the Commission may share information from this system of records with a consumer reporting agency regarding an individual who has not paid a valid and overdue debt owed to the Commission, following the procedures set out in the Debt Collection Act, 31 U.S.C. 3711(e).

Information in ECACS consists of electronic data, files, and records, which are housed in the FCC’s computer network databases, and paper documents, files, and records, which are stored in file cabinets in the PSHSB office suite.

Information in the Emergency Contacts and the COOP Contacts databases is retrieved by searching any field in the respective database(s).

The FCC maintains and disposes of these records in accordance with the requirements of the General Records Schedules (GRS) issued by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) as follows:

GRS 5.3, Disposition Authorities:

Item 010: DAA-GRS-2016-0004-0001: Continuity planning and related emergency planning files; and

Item 020: DAA-GRS-2016-0004-0002: Employee emergency contact information.

GRS 4.1, Disposition Authority: Item 030: DAA-GRS-2013-0002-0008: Vital or essential records program records.

1. The electronic records, data, and files are stored within FCC accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized Commission employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other FCC employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The FCC’s electronic files and records protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA).

2. There are a limited number of paper documents, files, and records, which are stored in file cabinets in the FCC Operations Center and continuity sites. These cabinets are locked when not in use and/or at the end of the business day. All access points for these locations are monitored.

3. PSHSB’s Test Partners and contractors will not have direct access to the FCC’s computer network or information systems; however, PSHSB will provide the Test Partners data necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of WEA. The Test Partners will be required to implement privacy safeguards against the disclosure of electronic data and paper document files provided by the FCC.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about them should follow the Notification Procedure below. Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about them should follow the Notification Procedure below.

None.

The FCC last gave full notice of this system of records, FCC/PSHSB-1, by publication in the Federal Register on April 24, 2020 (85 FR 23024).

/oea-6

FCC/OEA-6, Broadband Data Collection

No information in the system is classified.

Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20554.

Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

Broadband Data Improvement Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-385, Stat. 4096 § 103(c)(1); American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA), Pub. L. No. 111-5, 123 Stat. 115 (2009); Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. 154(i); Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act (Broadband DATA Act), Pub. L. No. 116-130, § 806(b), 134 Stat. 228, 238 (2020), amended by Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pub. L. No. 117-58, § 60102(h)(2)(E)(ii), 135 Stat. 429, 1198 (2021) (codified at 47 U.S.C. § 646(b)).

The BDC system will collect granular, detailed information on the availability and quality of service of fixed and mobile broadband Internet access service from service providers, as well as verified broadband availability data from other Federal agencies, from State, local, and Tribal governmental entities that are primarily responsible for mapping or tracking broadband service coverage, and from other third parties. As part of the functionality of this system, various stakeholders, including consumers, can provide information about the accuracy of these data through the submission of challenge data and crowdsourced data. Certain information is required to properly validate challenge data and crowdsourced data submitted by consumers and to adjudicate challenges. The Categories of Records section below describes the types of information that will be collected from individuals as part of the fixed broadband challenge and crowdsourcing processes, and the Fabric challenge process. Information will also be collected from individuals through mobile speed test apps – including not only the FCC’s mobile speed test application (FCC Speed Test App), built by an FCC contractor, but also other FCC-approved, third-party applications (see Broadband Data Task Force and Office of Engineering and Technology Announce Procedures for Third-Party Mobile Speed Test Applications Seeking Approval for Use in the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection, WC Docket No. 19-195, ET Docket No. 22-152, Public Notice, DA-22-408 (OET Apr. 14, 2022)) – which will enable individuals to participate in the BDC mobile challenge process and crowdsourcing efforts. A Privacy Act Statement or privacy notice will appear at all points of information collection from consumers.

To that end, the BDC platform does the following:

(1) Collects and disseminates granular broadband service availability data (broadband maps) from both fixed and mobile broadband providers, as well as governmental entities and third parties;

(2) Ingests the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (a common dataset of all locations in the United States and its territories where fixed broadband internet access service can be installed, and which must serve as the foundation upon which all data relating to the availability of fixed broadband internet access service must be reported and overlaid);

(3) Enables the submission of data challenging the accuracy of the FCC’s broadband coverage maps, the information submitted by internet service providers regarding broadband service availability and quality of service, and/or the information included in the Fabric; and

(4) Enables the submission of crowdsourced data regarding the deployment and availability of broadband internet access service so that it may be used to verify and supplement information submitted by service providers for potential inclusion in the coverage maps.

As part of their participation in the challenge processes and other BDC mechanisms, it is the responsibility of the individuals to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the contact information and other data being provided at the time it is submitted into the BDC system. For individuals using the FCC Speed Test App, or another FCC-approved, third-party speed test application, this responsibility is shared by the individual and the mobile application provider. Once information is ingested by the BDC system, data integrity is controlled through user access safeguards and annual data validation testing (i.e., contingency planning exercises).

Information will be provided by consumers to the BDC system as part of the challenge processes. As noted, there are three types of challenges that can be initiated through the BDC: Fixed Broadband Challenges, Mobile Broadband Challenges, and Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric Challenges.

Fixed Broadband Challenges:

Entities and individuals can challenge whether a fixed broadband provider makes broadband service available at a particular broadband serviceable location (BSL) identified through the Fabric. After a challenger provides contact information and a justification for the challenge into the BDC system via a web-based form, an official ticket is created, along with a unique ticket number. The FCC monitors the ticket throughout the challenge process and will adjudicate challenges as necessary. The BDC system will notify individual challengers about the status of their challenge once the challenge is resolved.

Mobile Broadband Challenges:

Entities or individuals have the ability to download the FCC Speed Test App, or another FCC-approved, third-party mobile speed test application, to provide actual measurements of mobile broadband speeds and other metrics. These applications are not incorporated into the BDC system of records. The mechanisms used by the BDC for the mobile challenge process collect the following data: the challenger’s email address and phone number, and the device identification, TCP/IP, time, and geo-location data associated with the speed test. This information is necessary to properly analyze and adjudicate consumer-initiated challenges.

The data collected by the FCC Speed Test App are transmitted to a database managed by SamKnows, the vendor for the FCC Speed Test App. SamKnows periodically transmits mobile speed test data from the database to the BDC system via a data transmission initiated by an automated Application Programming Interface (API) process, and the BDC system will acknowledge receipt of the submission. For FCC-approved, third-party mobile speed test applications, the collected mobile speed test data should be transmitted, stored, and maintained in the third-party app developer’s data repository system after the completion of active test measurements. The third-party app developer will similarly transmit the mobile speed test data periodically to the BDC system via a data transmission initiated by an automated API process, and the BDC system will acknowledge receipt of the submission.

These mobile speed test data will be subject to validation checks and algorithms developed by the FCC’s Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) to confirm the validity of the challenge data submission. The BDC system will aggregate validated speed test data with other submissions to create a cognizable mobile challenge in an area. Once a valid challenge data submission has formed the basis of a cognizable mobile challenge, a message will be sent to the challenger providing an update on the status of the challenge. At the same time as the challenger is notified that a cognizable mobile challenge has been created, the BDC system will notify the challenged mobile broadband service provider of the challenged area and provide details regarding the substance of the cognizable challenge, including underlying speed test data and relevant information about the challenger as necessary to allow the mobile service provider to respond to the challenge.

Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric Challenges:

Stakeholders can submit challenges to the Fabric data. The FCC relies on the Fabric when ingesting and publishing fixed broadband availability data. After a challenger provides contact information, information about a location that the challenger believes is incorrect in or missing from the Fabric, and a justification for the challenge, the BDC system creates an official ticket, along with a unique ticket number. The challenge data and associated ticket number are stored in a database within the FCC’s BDC system. The FCC monitors the ticket through resolution. Once resolved, the challenger will receive a message with the resolution and status update.

Submission of Crowdsourced Data:

Entities or individuals may submit information about the deployment and availability of broadband internet access service so that it may be used to verify and supplement information submitted by providers for potential inclusion in the coverage maps. Crowdsourced data filers will provide, among other things, personal contact information (e.g., name, address, phone number, and email), the location that is the subject of the filing, including the street address and/or coordinates of the location; and a certification that to the best of the filer’s actual knowledge, information, and belief, all statements in the filing are true and correct. Additionally, parties submitting mobile crowdsourced data must include the metrics and meet the testing parameters required for other entities to submit on-the-ground data to the Commission (see 47 CFR § 1.7006(c)(1)(i)-(ii)), except that the data may include any combination of download speed and upload speed rather than both.

The categories of individuals in this system include individuals who have an interest in or are otherwise connected to the BDC, including individuals who (either in their own capacity or as a representative of a business or governmental entity): (1) submit broadband availability data, in the case of broadband service providers; (2) submit verified availability data, in the case of Federal agencies, State, local or Tribal governmental entities primarily responsible for mapping or tracking broadband coverage, or other third parties; and (3) elect to participate in the BDC fixed challenge process, fixed crowdsourced data collection, and the Fabric challenge process (either in the submission of challenge or crowdsourced data or in the submission of data in rebuttal to challenges), as well as each person who uses either the FCC Speed Test App or other FCC-approved, third-party mobile speed test applications to participate in the BDC mobile challenge and crowdsourcing processes).

The categories of records in this system include: first and last name, street address (when relevant), phone number(s), email address, and, for the mobile challenge and crowdsource processes, geolocation or geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) information, the timestamp reflecting when the test measurement data were transmitted to the app developer’s servers, user ID (unique device or application installation identifier), IP/MAC address (including source IP address and port of the device, as measured by the server), and other mobile device information (e.g., make, model, operating system).

The sources for the information in this system are individuals, governmental entities (including Federal, State, local, and Tribal governmental entities), businesses, other third parties, and other FCC systems.

1. Public Access – Pursuant to the FCC’s Third Report and Order implementing the Broadband Data Collection (FCC-21-20), records related to the location of a challenge that is submitted as part of the challenge process will be made public, at times in aggregate form, via the Commission’s website, including the street address and/or geographic coordinates as relevant. Location-related records related to the crowdsourcing process will also be made public via the Commission’s website. Non-location related records associated with the challenge or crowdsourcing process, such as names, phone numbers, email addresses, or mobile device information will not be posted on the website.

2. Fixed and Mobile Broadband Service Providers – As described in the Purpose section above, certain records will be shared with fixed and mobile broadband service providers in order to help resolve challenges and/or address conflicting coverage information.

3. NTIA – Records, including provider contact information, may be shared with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for administration of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and for other broadband programs funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts or other legislation. Additionally, records may be shared with NTIA in response to its submission of verified broadband availability data.

4. Other Federal Agencies – Records, including provider contact information, may be shared with other Federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Treasury to support broadband programs funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or other legislation. For example, the Broadband DATA Act requires the FCC to share broadband maps with other Federal agencies upon request, while the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requires coordination with Treasury and other agencies on the Broadband Deployment Locations Map. Additionally, records may be shared with other Federal agencies in response to their submission of verified broadband availability data.

5. State, Local, and Tribal Governmental Entities – Records, including provider contact information, may be shared with State, local, and Tribal governmental entities for use in their own broadband infrastructure funding programs, such as funding made available through Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, as well as in response to their submission of verified broadband availability data.

6. Contract Services, Grants, or Cooperative Agreements – Records may be shared with FCC contractors, grantees, or volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity. Examples include, but are not limited to, sharing records with the developers of FCC-approved, third-party mobile speed test applications; with wireless engineering firms assisting with the mobile challenge process; with technical assistance firms supporting the BDC help center; with outside auditing firms assisting with audits.

7. FCC Enforcement Actions – When a record in this system involves an informal complaint filed alleging a violation of FCC rules and regulations by an applicant, licensee, certified or regulated entity, or an unlicensed person or entity, the complaint may be provided to the alleged violator for a response. Where a complainant in filing his or her complaint explicitly requests confidentiality of his or her name from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that the request impedes the Commission’s ability to investigate and/or resolve the complaint.

8. Congressional Inquiries – To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the request of that individual.

9. Government-Wide Program Management and Oversight – To the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

10. Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to appropriate Federal, State, or local agencies, authorities, and officials responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal statute, law, regulation, or order.

11. Litigation – To disclose records to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the Department of Justice is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

12. Adjudication – To disclose records in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

13. Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

14. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches – To another Federal agency or Federal entity when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach, or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

15. Prevention of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Disclosure – To Federal agencies, non-Federal entities, their employees, and agents (including contractors, their agents or employees; employees or contractors of the agents or designated agents); or contractors, their employees or agents with whom the FCC has a contract, service agreement, cooperative agreement, or computer matching agreement for the purpose of: (1) detection, prevention, and recovery of improper payments; (2) detection and prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse in Federal programs administered by a Federal agency or non-Federal entity; (3) detection of fraud, waste, and abuse by individuals in their operations and programs, but only to the extent that the information shared is necessary and relevant to verify pre-award and prepayment requirements prior to the release of Federal funds, prevent and recover improper payments for services rendered under programs of the FCC or of those Federal agencies and non-Federal entities to which the FCC provides information under this routine use.

This is an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s network or on an FCC vendor’s network.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., first name or email address.

Before a service provider receives access to crowdsourced or challenge data, it will be required, within the BDC platform, to acknowledge that it will use personally identifiable information that it receives for the sole purpose of responding to a challenge and that it will protect and keep private all such personally identifiable information.

The FCC protects its information resources with a dynamic set of security measures. Some of these measures (e.g., network firewalls, physical security) protect the entire FCC enterprise, while other measures (e.g., user access restrictions, encryption) are applied to specific information systems. Following the risk-based policy established in the Federal Information Modernization Act (FISMA), the FCC applies more security measures (also known as security "controls") to information systems that present higher operational risks. Consistent with this policy, the FCC applies specific security controls to systems that collect and process Privacy Act records. A comprehensive list of the security and privacy controls the FCC may apply to its information systems can be found in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) No. 800-53, Revision 5. Finally, the BDC resides within the FCC instance of AWS, which is FedRAMP accredited, and any customer responsibility controls are addressed through NIST SP No. 800-53.

The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC or a vendor’s accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s or vendor’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access solely on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records contains information about themselves may do so by emailing privacy@fcc.gov. Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity to gain access to records as required under 47 CFR part 0, subpart E.

None.

76 FR 41497 (July 14, 2011)

/OWD-1

FCC/OWD-1, FCC Accommodation Requests.

Unclassified.

Office of Workplace Diversity (OWD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

Office of Workplace Diversity (OWD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554; and/or Security Operations Center, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

Executive Order (E.O.) 13164, Establishing Procedures to Facilitate the Provision of Reasonable Accommodation; EEOC, Enforcement Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, 29 CFR part 1615; Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.; 29 CFR 1630, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Part 1605; U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Compliance Manual, Section 12: Religious Discrimination (January 15, 2021); U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Questions and Answers: Religious Discrimination in the Workplace (July 22, 2008); The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), Pub. L. No. 117-328, 136 Stat. 4459 (2022).

This system provides a method by which the FCC can identify Commission employees who have requested accommodations related to: religion; disability; or pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Information on the disposition of each request is also maintained in this system.

The categories of records in this system are FCC employees (including, but not limited to full-time and part-time Commission employees, temporary hires, interns, and co-op students.) who have requested accommodations.

The categories of records in this system include but are not limited to the information that FCC employees (including, but not limited to full time, part time, temporary hires, interns, and co-op students) provide when requesting accommodation, including through submission of FCC Forms 5626, 5627, and 5652. These categories of records include: applicant/employee’s name, phone number, email address; employee’s office, supervisor’s name and phone number; date of request; types of accommodation(s) requested; reason(s) for request; specific information, supporting documentation, and related materials regarding medical condition, including but not limited to the characteristics of impairment, job function difficulties, current limitation(s), past accommodation(s), specific accommodation(s), permanent or temporary condition(s); specific information, supporting documentation, and related materials regarding pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions; specific information, supporting documentation, and related materials regarding requests for religious accommodations; signatures of applicant and receiving official; FCC-ACC Number (reasonable accommodations number); and disposition of request.

The sources for the information in this system include, but are not limited to FCC employees and applicants (including, but not limited to full-time and part-time Commission employees, temporary hires, interns, and co-op students), who have requested accommodations.

1. Litigation—To disclose records to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in their official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in their individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation.

3. Law Enforcement and Investigation— When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order.

4. Congressional Inquiries—To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from the Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

5. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

6. Labor Relations—To officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71 upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5 U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions.

9. Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

This an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s network. Paper documents and files including paper copies of form email correspondence, notes, and other related records are stored in file cabinets in the OWD office suite.

Information in this system’s paper document files and records is retrieved by searching by the individual’s last name or the (corresponding) ACC number. Information in the electronic records and files is retrieved by the individual’s last name, ACC number, office/workstation address, bureau/office, and accommodations request date.

OWD staff maintains the information in this system in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) General Records Schedule 2.3, Employee Relations Records (DAA-GRS-2018-0002), specifically: DAA-GRS-2022-0001 (Religious Accommodations Revision); DAA-GRS-2018-0002-0001 (Employee Relations Programs’ Administrative Records); and DAA-GRS-2018-0002-0002 (Reasonable Accommodation Case Files).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to contest information pertaining to him or her in the system of records should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

84 FR 3163 (Feb. 11, 2019)

/OWD-2 FCC/OWD-2, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program

Unclassified.

Office of Workplace Diversity (OWD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554.

Director of Office of Workplace Diversity (OWD), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554.

Administrative Dispute Resolution Act, 5 U.S.C. 571; Civil Justice Reform, Executive Order 12988; 29 CFR §§ 1614.102(b)(2), 1614.105(f), 1614.108(b), and 1614.603.

This system will cover the PII that is collected, used, stored, and maintained in the database of the OWD Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program database, which will provide a forum for the informal resolution of a variety of workplace disputes as an alternative to the formal procedures that employees traditionally use to resolve disputes. OWD will use the information to provide the ADR Program’s processes, proceedings, and services to FCC employees and related individuals. Information on the disposition of each of the proceedings will also be maintained in this system’s database.

The categories of individuals include, but are not limited to current and former FCC employees and other individuals who may be associated with the ADR Program’s processes and proceedings related to disputes occurring in connection with their FCC employment.

The categories of records in this system include, but are not limited to information that is required/requested on OWD’s ADR Intake Form and all related documents, records, and files associated with the ADR process, including: the employee’s name, home, work, and mobile telephone numbers, primary and secondary email addresses, home contact information, current position address, representative’s name, address, and telephone number, Federal employee status (Y/N), current Federal employee position title and grade, individuals involved in the dispute, other formal/informal filings, the dispute description, each individual’s involvement in the dispute, employee signature and request date.

The sources for the information in the ADR Program database include, but are not limited to the FCC employees and other individuals who are associated with the ADR Program’s process and the records, files, and material(s) that are part of these ADR Program activities.

1. Congressional Inquiries – To provide information to a congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that congressional office made at the request of that individual.

2. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To disclose information to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for use in its records management inspections; to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for oversight purposes; to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

3. Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or other administrative or adjudicative bodies before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

4. Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, and/or local agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

5. Labor Relations – To disclose information to officials of labor organizations recognized under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71 upon receipt of a formal request and in accord with the conditions of 5. U.S.C. 7114 when relevant and necessary to their duties of exclusive representation concerning personnel policies, practices, and matters affecting working conditions.

6. Employment, Clearances, Licensing, Contract, Grant, or other Benefits Decisions by the FCC – To disclose information to a Federal, State, local, foreign, tribal, or other public agency or authority maintaining civil, criminal, or other relevant enforcement records, or other pertinent records, or to another public authority or professional organization, if necessary to obtain information relevant to an investigation concerning the hiring or retention of an employee or other personnel action, the issuance or retention of a security clearance, the classifying of jobs, the letting of a contract, or the issuance or retention of a license, grant, or other benefit by the Commission, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the requesting agency’s decisions on the matter.

7. FCC Functions – To disclose information to potential witnesses as appropriate and necessary to perform the FCC’s functions under 29 CFR part 1614.

8. Breach Notification – To disclose information to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

9. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities – To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

10. For Non-Federal Personnel – To disclose information to contractors performing or working on a contract for the Federal Government, who may require access to this system of records.

REPORTING TO A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY:

In addition to the routine uses listed above, the Commission may share information from this system of records with a consumer reporting agency regarding an individual who has not paid a valid and overdue debt owed to the Commission, following the procedures set out in the Debt Collection Act, 31 U.S.C. 3711(e).

The information in this system includes:

1. Electronic records, files, and data that are maintained in a password protected database that is housed on the FCC computer network; and

2. Paper documents, records, and files that are stored in file cabinets in "non-public" rooms in the OWD office suite.

Records are filed alphabetically and retrieved by the last name of the FCC employee and other individuals and/or a corresponding ADR Program identity number.

Records kept by the FCC are maintained and disposed of in accordance with General Records Schedule (GRS) 2.3, items 10-12, issued by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA):

10. ADR Program Files (program management and routine activities):

•Destroy when three years old, but authorization for longer retention if required for business use.

11. ADR case files – Informal process (associated with another employee dispute, complaint or grievance process):

•Destroy three years after case is closed, but authorization for longer retention if required for business use.

12. ADR case files – Formal process (generated in response to a referral from another dispute, grievance or complaint process, i.e., EEO complaints or grievances):

•Destroy seven years after case is closed, but authorization for longer retention if required for business use.

1. The electronic records, data, and files are maintained in a database housed in the FCC computer network databases. The FCC’s computer network is protected by the FCC’s IT privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA).

2. There are a limited number of paper documents, files, and records, which are stored in file cabinets in the OWD office suite. These cabinets are locked when not in use and/or at the end of the business day. All access points for the OWD office suite are monitored.

3. Furthermore, as part of the FCC’s privacy safeguards, only authorized OWD supervisors, employees, and contractors, including IT contractors who manage the FCC’s computer network may have access to the electronic data and the paper document files. Other FCC employees may be granted access on a "need-to-know" basis.

Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about them should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity and access to records (5 CFR Part 0, Subpart E).

None.

This is a new system of records.

/WTB-1 Wireless Services Licensing Records.

No information in the system is classified.

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

31 U.S.C. 7701; and 47 U.S.C. 301, 303, 309, 312, 362, 364, 386, 507, and 510.

The FCC uses the information in this system for purposes that include, but are not limited to:

1. To provide public access to pending requests for authorizations and information regarding current licenses and leases;

2. To provide public access to license data, which promotes the economically efficient allocation of spectrum and the resolution of radio interference problems;

3. To determine the availability of spectrum for licensing;

4. To determine when compliance filings, renewal applications, and fees are due from licensees;

5. To resolve disputes between radio operators regarding who has certain rights to use particular frequency bands in particular geographic areas;

6. To resolve cross border disputes, on occasion—e.g., dispute(s) with entities operating in Canada and Mexico;

7. To allow licensees to transfer, assign, or lease their interests in particular licenses or portions of licenses as the rules permit (after agency approval);

8. To evaluate the completeness and sufficiency of requests for new or modified authorizations;

9. To provide reports to a variety of Federal officials on the current uses and utilization of the spectrum the FCC is charged with regulating;

10. To collect and maintain information to allow staff access to documents necessary for key activities discussed in this SORN, including analyzing effectiveness and efficiency of related FCC programs and informing future rule-making and policy-making activity; and improving staff efficiency.

The categories of individuals whose records are maintained in this system include, but are not limited to: licensees, lessees, applicants (including persons or entities with attributable interests therein), and entities or individuals who participate in relevant FCC proceedings; tower owners; and contact persons relating to radio systems licensed or processed by the WTB under parts 13, 22, 24, 27, 74, 80, 87, 90, 95, 97, and 101 of the Commission’s Rules (Wireless Services).

The categories of records in this system include, but are not limited to:

1. Applications, requests for authorization, and related pleadings, all of which may include contact information and other personally identifiable information (PII);

2. Forms 175, 601, 602, 603, 605, and 608 and related pleadings, all of which may include contact information and other (PII);

3. Authorizations, licenses, leases, and related pleadings, all of which may include contact information and other (PII);

4. Correspondence relating to applications, requests for authorization, FCC forms, authorizations, licenses, leases, and all related pleadings.

Sources of records include individuals conducting business with or participating in relevant proceedings of the FCC.

1. Public Access—Records related to applications, requests for authorizations, authorizations, licenses, leases, and related pleadings and correspondence will be routinely made publicly available, with the exception of material which is afforded confidential treatment pursuant to a request made under 47 CFR § 0.459.

2. Litigation—To disclose records to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the Department of Justice is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

3. Adjudication—To disclose records in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

4. FCC Enforcement Actions—When a record in this system involves an informal complaint filed alleging a violation of the Communications Act or FCC regulations or orders (FCC Rules and Regulations) by an applicant, licensee, certified or regulated entity, or an unlicensed person or entity, the complaint may be provided to the alleged violator for a response. Where a complainant in filing his or her complaint explicitly requests confidentiality of his or her name from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that the request impedes the Commission’s ability to investigate and/or resolve the complaint.

5. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation, to disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary with the target of an investigation, as well as with appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order.

7. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—To provide information to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under FOIA; or to OMB to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

8. Breach Notification—To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize or remedy such harm.

9. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

10. Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

This an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s network. Paper records that are not filed electronically are keyed into the system by FCC staff; such paper records are retained for one year and then destroyed.

Information in the electronic database can be retrieved by searching electronically using a variety of parameters including name, a licensee’s unique identifier, call sign, file number, etc.

The information in this electronic system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the "Universal Licensing System" Records Schedule, Number N1-173-08-001.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

None.

71 FR 17269 (April 5, 2006).

/WTB-6 Archival Radio Operator Records.

No information in the system is classified.

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.

Chief, Technologies Systems and Innovation Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325.

47 U.S.C. 303(l), 303(m), and 318.

WTB uses the information in this information system for purposes that include, but are not limited to:

1. To administer the Commission’s radio operator program including applications and determinations of license applicant qualifications.

2. To enforce the Communications Act, as amended, FCC regulations, other FCC requirements or orders, other statutes and regulations subject to the FCC’s jurisdiction, and/or international treaties (Rules and Regulations), and refer possible violations to the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, OGC, and/or to the appropriate agency charged with the responsibility of investigating or prosecuting such violation(s).

The categories of individuals whose records are maintained in this system include, but are not limited to. individuals who applied for and/or received a radiotelephone (wireless) operator license or permit prior to the implementation of the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Licensing System (ULS) in 2001.

he records in this system include, but are not limited to:

1. Applications for radiotelephone (wireless) operator’s license or permit prior to the implementation of the FCC’s Universal Licensing System in 2001; and

2. Documents associated with these applications.

Under the authority granted to heads of agencies by 5 U.S.C. 552a(k), the FCC has determined (47 CFR § 0.561) that this system of records is exempt from disclosing its record sources for this system of records.

Information about individuals in this system of records may routinely be disclosed under the following conditions:

1. Public Access—the licensee records will routinely be made publicly available; ITIN Numbers and material which is afforded confidential treatment pursuant to a request made under 47 CFR 0.459 will not be available for public inspection. Names and other information about individuals subject to investigations or similar actions may be disclosed to the public in Commission releases, including Notices of Apparent Liability, Forfeiture Orders, Consent Agreements, Notice Letters, or all other actions released by a Bureau or the Commission as part of their duties to enforce FCC Rules and Regulations.

4. FCC Enforcement Actions—When a record in this system involves an informal complaint filed alleging a violation of FCC Rules and Regulations by an applicant, licensee, certified or regulated entity, or an unlicensed person or entity, the complaint may be provided to the alleged violator for a response. Where a complainant in filing his or her complaint explicitly requests confidentiality of his or her name from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that the request impedes the Commission’s ability to investigate and/or resolve the complaint.

7. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—To DOJ to obtain that Department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to OMB to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

10. Non-Federal Personnel—To disclose information to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

These are microfiche files that are maintained in the FCC’s Gettysburg Office, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325.

All records are retrievable by applicant name and the issue date of the FCC License.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Records Schedule No. N1-173-94-002, "Wireless Telecommunications Bureau - Licensing Division Records."

The microfiche files are securely maintained in the FCC’s Gettysburg office. Access to the microfiche files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors maintaining these files; other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The microfiche are stored in locked file cabinets that are secured at the close of the business day. The security protocols and features are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), OMB, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Under the authority granted to heads of agencies by 5 U.S.C. 552a(k), the FCC has determined (47 CFR 0.561) that this system of records is exempt from disclosing its record access procedures for this system of records.

Under the authority granted to heads of agencies by 5 U.S.C. 552a(k), the FCC has determined (47 CFR 0.561) that this system of records is exempt from disclosing its contesting record procedures for this system of records.

Under the authority granted to heads of agencies by 5 U.S.C. 552a(k), the FCC has determined (47 CFR § 0.561) that this system of records is exempt from disclosing its notification procedure for this system of records.

This system of records is exempt from sections (c)(3), (d), (e)(4)(G), (H), and (I), and (f) of the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, and from 47 CFR 0.554 through 0.557 of the Commission’s rules. These provisions concern the notification, record access, and contesting procedures described above, and also the publication of record sources. The system is exempt from these provisions because it contains investigative material compiled for law enforcement purposes as defined in Section (k)(2) of the Privacy Act.

71 FR 17272 (April 5, 2006).

/WTB-7 FCC/WTB-7, Licensing and Related Support Services

Unclassified.

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Washington, DC 20554.

47 U.S.C. 151, 154, 208, 258, 301, 303, 309(e), and 312.

The FCC staff uses the records in this system to process requests for assistance from individuals or groups in connection with FCC systems, research tools, electronic databases, licenses, authorizations, and registrations.

The categories of individuals in the system include individuals who request assistance in connection with FCC systems, research tools, electronic databases, licenses, authorizations, and registrations.

The categories of records in the system include:

1. Requests for assistance by the requester’s first name, last name, telephone number and extension, international telephone number and extension, e-mail address(es), computer operating system, web browser, FCC Registration Number (FRN), and personal security question and answer.

2. Records verifying identity information by the individual’s first name, last name, contact telephone number, FRN, and personal security question and answer.

Information in this system is provided by users who request assistance in connection with FCC systems, research tools, electronic databases, licenses, authorizations, and registrations.

1. Third Parties – To third parties, including Federal, state, local, or tribal agencies, or entities that may be subject to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to resolve requests for assistance.

2. Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or to other administrative or adjudicative bodies before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC have agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

3. Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, local, or tribal agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, when the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

5. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To provide information to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for the use in its records management inspections; to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act; or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

6. Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of PII maintained in the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information system, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and,(c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

8. Non-Federal Personnel – To disclose information to third parties, including contractors, performing or working on a contract in connection with resolving requests for assistance and/or IT services for the Federal Government, who may require access to this system of records.

Reporting To A Consumer Reporting Agency:

Information in the information system consists of electronic data, files, and records, which are housed in the FCC’s computer network databases. Any paper documents that WTB receives are scanned into the electronic database upon receipt, and then the paper documents are destroyed.

The electronic data, files, and records may be retrieved by searching electronically using a variety of parameters including the requester’s name, entity name, telephone number, licensee, applicant or unlicensed individual, call sign, file number, problem type, FRN, email address, and/ or subject matter.

The information in the system is maintained according to General Records Schedules 5.8 and 6.5. The electronic records, files, and data are destroyed physically (electronic storage media) or by electronic erasure. Paper documents are destroyed by shredding after they are scanned into the information system’s electronic databases.

The records in the FCC's computer network are protected by the FCC privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records contains information about themselves may do so by writing to the Privacy Team, Office of General Counsel, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554 Privacy@fcc.gov.

Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity to gain access to the records (47 CFR Part 0, Subpart E).

None.

The FCC last gave full notice of this system of records, FCC/WTB-7, Licensing and Related Support Services (formerly: FCC/WTB-7, Remedy Action Request System (RARS)), by publication in the Federal Register on May 28, 2010 (75 FR 30025).

WCB-1

FCC/WCB-1, Lifeline Program

Unclassified.

Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), 700 12th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005; and Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

USAC administers the Lifeline Program for the FCC. Address inquiries to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), 700 12th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005; or Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

47 U.S.C. 151-154, 201-205, 214, 254, 403; Safe Connections Act of 2022, Public Law 117-223, 116 Stat. 2280.

The Lifeline Program provides discounts for one Lifeline voice service and/or BIAS per household, and the initial connection charge in certain Tribal areas to support such service, to qualifying low-income individuals, including survivors eligible to receive emergency communications support. Individuals may qualify for Lifeline through proof of income, proof of participation in another qualifying program, or proof of the need for emergency communications support for survivors, including documentation of financial hardship as defined in FCC regulations and orders. The Lifeline Program system of records is maintained to determine whether the applicant meets the eligibility requirements for initial enrollment and recertification, including the limit of one benefit per household; program administration; dispute resolution; monitoring of enrollment representatives; and, consumer surveys.

The categories of individuals in this system include those individuals residing in a single household who have applied for benefits; are currently receiving benefits; are individuals who enable another individual in their household to qualify for benefits; are minors whose status qualifies a parent or guardian for benefits; are individuals who have received benefits under the Lifeline Program; are survivors seeking emergency communications support and, as required, their alleged abusers; are individuals that respond to a consumer survey developed using information in this system; and are individuals acting as enrollment representatives and providing information directly or indirectly into USAC’s Lifeline Systems on behalf of an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) to enroll subscribers, recertify subscribers, or update subscriber information in the Lifeline Program.

The categories of records in the system include first and last name of the applicant, subscriber, other household members, survivor, alleged abuser, caregiver, or consumer survey participant; date of birth; last four digits of Social Security Number or a full Tribal identification number; residential address; descriptive address; address based on geographic coordinates (geolocation); internet Protocol (IP) address; contact information; evidence of residence on Tribal lands; qualifying program participation; financial information; username and password; account security questions and answers; Lifeline subscriber identification number; assigned Representative ID Number; Lifeline participation status; amount of benefit received; documents demonstrating eligibility; documents showing only one benefit is received per household; voice recordings; USAC-assigned identifying numbers, such as Application ID, Eligibility Check ID, or eligibility ID numbers; for survivors seeking emergency communications support, documentation related to the submission of a legitimate line separation request to a telecommunications provider and documentation or certification of financial hardship (such as income self-certification or documentation related to receipt of Pell Grants or qualification for federal nutrition programs); and signatures.

For ETC enrollment representatives who register to access the National Verifier or National Lifeline Accountability Database the following information may be collected: first and last name, date of birth, the last four digits of his or her social security number, email address, residential address, or other identity proof documentation.

The sources for the information in the Lifeline Program system of records include ETCs and their registered enrollment representatives; applicants; consumer survey respondents; State, Tribal, and Federal databases; and, third-party identity verifiers.

1. Program Management—Records may be disclosed to USAC employees to conduct official duties associated with the management, operation, and oversight of the Lifeline Program, NLAD, National Verifier, Lifeline Claims System, and Representative Accountability Database, as directed by the Commission.

2. Application, Enrollment, and Recertification—Records may be disclosed to facilitate the Lifeline application, enrollment, or recertification processes, including for survivors seeking or receiving communications support, records from this system may be disclosed to the individual who originally submitted the records, to the individual applicant to whom the records pertain, or to an authorized representative, entity, or organization supporting the individual in the application, enrollment, or recertification process.

3. Third Party Contractors—Records may be disclosed to an employee of a third-party contractor, or subcontractor of the third- party contractor, engaged by USAC or an ETC to, among other things, develop the Lifeline Eligibility Database, conduct the eligibility verification process, recertification process, run call center and email support operations, and assist in dispute resolution.

4. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Entity—Records may be disclosed to an employee of the BPO engaged by USAC or an employee of a third-party contractor engaged by the BPO to perform and review eligibility evaluations where the National Verifier conducts such processes for purposes of conducting the eligibility verification process or recertification process, performing manual eligibility verification (when needed), run call center and email support operations, and to assist in dispute resolution.

5. State Agencies and Other Authorized State Government Entities—Records may be disclosed to designated State agencies and other authorized governmental entities, including State public utility commissions, State departments of health and human services or other State entities that share data with USAC or the FCC, and their agents, as is consistent with applicable Federal and State laws, for purposes of eligibility verification and recertification; administering the Lifeline Program on behalf of ETCs in that State; performing other management and oversight duties and responsibilities; enabling the National Verifier to perform eligibility verification for individuals applying for or re-certifying for Lifeline support; enabling the State to perform eligibility verification for individuals applying for or re-certifying for Lifeline support; providing enrollment and other selected reports to the State; comparing information contained in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) and Lifeline eligibility, recertification, and related systems to information contained in state databases associated with State- administered Lifeline Programs in order to assess differences between State and Federal programs and make adjustments.

6. Social Service Agencies and Other Approved Third Parties—Records may be disclosed to social service agencies and other third parties that have been approved by USAC for purposes of assisting individuals in applying for and recertifying for Lifeline support.

7. Federal Agencies—Records may be disclosed to other Federal agencies for the development of and operation under data sharing agreements with USAC or the FCC to enable the National Verifier to perform eligibility verification or recertification for individuals applying for Lifeline support or another federal program using Lifeline qualification as an eligibility criterion.

8. Tribal Nations—Records may be disclosed to Tribal Nations to perform eligibility verification or recertification for individuals applying for Lifeline support, to provide enrollment and other selected reports to Tribal Nations, and for purposes of assisting individuals in applying for and recertifying for Lifeline support.

9. Service Providers—Records may be disclosed to service providers and their registered representatives in states or territories where the National Verifier is operating where the service provider is using the carrier eligibility and status check Application Programming Interface (API) to initiate Lifeline applications and eligibility checks and complete benefit transfer requests. Records may also be disclosed to service providers who have been designated as ETCs to facilitate the provision of service, allow for the service provider to receive reimbursement through the Lifeline Program, to provide information to the relevant ETC about an ETC representative whose account has been disabled for cause, and provide enrollment and other selected reports to service providers.

10. FCC Enforcement Actions—When a record in this system involves an informal complaint filed alleging a violation of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, or FCC regulations or orders (FCC Rules and Regulations) by an applicant, licensee, certified or regulated entity, or an unlicensed person or entity, the complaint may be provided to the alleged violator for a response. Where a complainant in filing his or her complaint explicitly requests confidentiality of his or her name from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that the request impedes the Commission’s ability to investigate and/or resolve the complaint.

12. Government-Wide Program Management and Oversight—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

13. Other Federal Program Eligibility—Records related to an individual’s Lifeline participation or qualification status may be disclosed to a Federal agency or contractor when a federal program administered by the agency or its contractor uses qualification for Lifeline as an eligibility criterion.

14. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal (including the Internal Revenue Service to investigate income eligibility verification), State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, order, or other compulsory obligation.

15. Litigation—Records may be disclosed to the DOJ when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

16. Adjudication—Records may be disclosed in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

17. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities (including USAC), and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission's efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

18. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency, Federal entity, or USAC when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

19. Computer Matching Program Disclosure—Records may be disclosed to (a) Federal, State, and local agencies; and (b) USAC, their employees, and agents for the purpose of developing and conducting computer matching programs as regulated by the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a).

20. Department of Treasury—Records may be disclosed to the U.S. Department of the Treasury when disclosure of the information is relevant to review payment and award eligibility through the Do Not Pay Working System for the purposes of identifying, preventing, or recouping improper payments to an applicant for, or recipient of, Federal funds, including funds disbursed by a state (meaning a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a federally recognized Indian tribe) in a state-administered, federally funded program.

21. Prevention of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Disclosure—Records may be disclosed to Federal agencies, non-Federal entities, their employees, and agents (including contractors, their agents or employees; employees or contractors of the agents or designated agents); or contractors, their employees or agents with whom the FCC or USAC has a contract, service agreement, cooperative agreement, or computer matching agreement for the purpose of: (1) detection, prevention, and recovery of improper payments; (2) detection and prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse in Federal programs administered by a Federal agency or non- Federal entity; (3) detection of fraud, waste, and abuse by individuals in their operations and programs, but only to the extent that the information shared is necessary and relevant to verify pre- award and prepayment requirements prior to the release of Federal funds, prevent and recover improper payments for services rendered under programs of the FCC or of those Federal agencies and non-Federal entities to which the FCC or USAC provides information under this routine use.

22. Non-Federal Personnel—Records may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including FCC or USAC contractors, other vendors ( e.g., identity verification services), grantees, or volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC or USAC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records that has not been otherwise identified in this Notice and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

23. Consumer Survey Development and Execution—Records may be disclosed to contractors, grantees, experts, consultants and their agents, or others performing or working under a contract service, grant, or cooperative agreement with the FCC or USAC, when necessary to develop and conduct consumer surveys as described in this system of records. Individuals who are provided information under these routine use conditions are subject to Privacy Act requirements and disclosure limitations imposed on the Commission.

The information pertaining to the Lifeline Program includes electronic records, files, data, paper documents, records, and may include audio recordings of calls. Records are maintained in secure, limited access areas. Physical entry by unauthorized persons is restricted through use of locks, passwords, and other security measures. Both USAC and its contractors will jointly manage the electronic data housed at USAC and at the contractors’ locations. Paper documents and other physical records ( i.e., tapes, compact discs, etc.) will be kept in locked, controlled access areas. Paper documents submitted by applicants to the Lifeline Program will be digitized, and paper copies will be immediately destroyed.

Information in the Lifeline Program system of records may be retrieved by various identifiers, including, but not limited to the individual’s name, last four digits of the Social Security Number (SSN), Tribal identification number, date of birth, phone number, residential address, and Lifeline subscriber identification number.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Records Schedule DAA-0173-2017-0001-0002 (Universal Service).

The electronic records, data, and files are maintained in the FCC and the USAC computer network databases, which are protected by the FCC’s and USAC’s privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by OMB, the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA). In addition, access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized USAC and contractors’ supervisors and staff and to the FCC’s IT supervisors and staff and to the IT contractors who maintain these computer databases. Other FCC employees and contractors may be granted access only on a "need-to-know" basis. In addition, data in the network servers for both USAC and its contractors will be routinely backed-up. The servers will be stored in secured environments to protect the data.

The paper documents and files are maintained in file cabinets in USAC and the contractors’ office suites. The file cabinets are locked when not in use and at the end of the business day. Access to these files is restricted to authorized USAC and its contractors’ staffs.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

89 FR 28777 (Apr. 19, 2024).

WCB-2 FCC/WCB-2, Toll Free Number Auction System

Unclassified.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554; for the 833 Auction described in the "Supplementary Information" section above, the system will be located at Somos Corporation, 2411 Dulles Corner Park, Suite 250, Herndon, VA 20171.

Wireline Communication Bureau (WCB), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554;

Section 251(e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, gives the FCC authority to create or designate impartial entities to administer telecommunications numbering and to make such numbers available on an equitable basis. 47 U.S.C. 251(e). Pursuant to this authority, the Commission has issued rules on the administration of toll free numbering. 47 CFR 52.101-111. These rules allow the Commission to assign toll free numbers using a variety of methods, including competitive bidding. 47 CFR 52.111.

The purpose of this system is to assign toll free numbers in a market-based and equitable manner. It flows from and is consistent with the FCC’s statutory responsibility to administer telecommunications numbering. In order to carry out this purpose, the FCC-designated auctioneer will collect information from parties that are interested in bidding for toll free numbers, will take steps to verify the parties’ identities, and will determine whether the parties are eligible to participate in auctions such as the 833 Auction. Interested parties will also be required to certify that they will follow the rules that the FCC has established to ensure a fair and transparent auction process. The auctioneer will then use the information to conduct the auction and collect payments from winning bidders. In addition, this system will also include information about parties that subsequently purchase auctioned numbers in the secondary market.

The categories of individuals in this system include, but are not limited to, individuals who have registered for an auction identification number, filled out an auction application form, and actually participated in toll free number auctions such as the 833 Auction. It may also include individuals who purchase auctioned numbers in the secondary market.

The categories of records in this system include, but are not limited to, names, physical address, e-mail address, telephone number, and an assigned unique identifying number for each auction applicant and for individuals who purchase auctioned numbers in the secondary market.

1. Public Access – In accordance with auction rules published by the Commission, the identities of auction applicants may be disclosed prior to auctions such as the 833 Auction. Additional information related to the numbers on which auction participants bid and the amount of such bids may be released after the auction has concluded.

2. Third-Party Identity Verification Service – To a third-party commercial identity verification service when individuals attempt to register for toll free number auctions such as the 833 Auction, in order to determine that the registrant is a real person.

3. Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose information to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or to a court or adjudicative body before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC have agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or have an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

4. Law Enforcement and Investigation – To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, or local agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

5. Congressional Inquiries – To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

6. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To disclose information to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for use in its records management inspections; to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for oversight purposes; to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

7. Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

9. FCC/Auctioneer Program Management: – To FCC and auctioneer employees to conduct official duties associated with the management and operation of toll free number auctions such as the 833 Auction, as directed by the Commission.

10. Third Party Contractors – To an employee of a third-party contractor or subcontractor engaged by the FCC or the auctioneer to, among other things, develop and test the web-based auction application, store and process bidder registration and application information in a cloud-based computing environment, and operate the actual auction process.

11. Audits and Investigations – To auditors or other investigative personnel hired by the FCC or the auctioneer to examine, among other topics, 1) the performance of the auctioneer in toll free number auctions such as the 833 Auction, and 2) the efficiency and integrity of toll free number auctions such as the 833 Auction.

>Reporting To A Consumer Reporting Agency:

Information in this system of records will include primarily electronic records, files, and documents pertaining to toll free number auctions such as the 833 Auction. The FCC, the auctioneer, and their contractors and subcontractors, as applicable, will jointly manage the electronic data.

A limited number of paper records, files, and documents will be maintained for various, short-term uses, as necessary. These documents will be stored in file cabinets in FCC offices and at the offices of the auctioneer and their contractors or subcontractors. The information in the paper formats will be secured in file cabinets and other storage facilities are locked when not in use and/or at the end of the business day. These paper documents are destroyed by shredding when no longer needed. Records are maintained in secure, limited access areas.

Information in this system can be retrieved by various identifiers, including, but not limited to, the individual applicant’s name, physical address, e-mail address, telephone number, or auction identification number.

The FCC is developing a records retention and disposal schedule for these records that will be submitted to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for review and approval. No records will be destroyed until NARA has approved this new records schedule.

Employees of the FCC and of the auctioneer may print paper copies of these electronic records for various, short-term uses, as necessary. These paper document copies are stored in locked file cabinets when not in use. Physical entry by unauthorized persons where this information is stored is restricted through use of locks, passwords, and other security measures. Only authorized FCC and auctioneer employees may have access to these documents. These paper documents are destroyed by shredding when no longer needed.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about them should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity and access to records (47 CFR Part 0, Subpart E).

None.

This is a new system of records.

WCB-3 FCC/WCB-3, Affordable Connectivity Program.

Unclassified.

USAC administers the ACP for the FCC. Address inquiries to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), 700 12th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005; or Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

47 U.S.C. 151-154, 201-205, 214, 403; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260 sec. 904; Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58 secs. 60501 et seq..

This system of records is maintained for use in determining whether a member of a household meets the eligibility criteria to qualify for and/or recertify for a discount on the cost of internet service and a subsidy for low-cost devices such as computers and tablets; ensuring benefits are not duplicated; dispute resolution regarding eligibility for the ACP; customer surveys and program notifications; audit; verification of a provider’s representative identity; and statistical studies.

The categories of individuals in this system include, but are not limited to, those individuals who have applied for the ACP; are individuals currently receiving ACP benefits; are individuals who enable another individual to qualify for benefits, including veterans or their beneficiaries; are minors whose status qualifies a household for benefits; are individuals who have received benefits under the Lifeline Program, including survivors, as that term is defined in the Safe Connections Act (SCA) and FCC regulations or orders, receiving emergency communications support; or are individuals acting on behalf of a participating provider as enrollment representatives who have enrolled or verified the eligibility of a household in the ACP.

The categories of records in the system include an applicant’s first and last name; email address; residential address; information on whether the individual resides on Tribal lands or certain high-cost areas; information on whether the address is temporary and/or descriptive and whether it includes coordinates; mailing address (if different); address based on geographic coordinates (geocoding); internet Protocol (IP) address; date of birth; last four digits of social security number, full Tribal identification number, or identification number assigned by the Veterans Administration; telephone number; full name of the qualifying person (if different from the individual applicant); qualifying person’s date of birth; qualifying person’s email address; qualifying person’s residential address; qualifying person’s mailing address; the last four digits of the qualifying person’s social security number, their full Tribal identification number, or identification number assigned by the Veterans Administration; information on whether the qualifying person resides on Tribal lands or certain high cost areas; full name of the veteran (if different from the individual applicant and qualifying person); veteran’s date of birth (if different from the individual applicant and qualifying person); the veteran’s identification number assigned by the Veterans Administration; veteran’s email address; the veteran’s residential address (if different from the individual applicant and qualifying person); the veteran’s mailing address; means of qualification for the ACP (i.e., participation in Lifeline (including survivors of domestic violence receiving emergency communications support, whose eligibility records include documentation related to the submission of a legitimate line separation request to a telecommunications provider and documentation of financial hardship), receipt of a Pell Grant, qualification for Federal nutrition programs, etc.); documents demonstrating eligibility; ACP subscriber identification number; ACP application number; identifying numbers assigned by USAC, such as Application ID, Eligibility Check ID, or eligibility ID numbers; security question; answer to security question; user name; password; agent identification information (if an agent is assisting in completing the application); individual applicant’s eligibility certifications; individual applicant’s signature and date of application; ACP service initiation date and termination date; amount of discount received; and amount of device benefit received.

For participating provider enrollment representatives who register to access the National Verifier or National Lifeline Accountability Database the following information may be collected: first and last name, date of birth, the last four digits of his or her social security number, email address, and address, or other identity proof documentation.

Participating providers and their registered enrollment representatives; individuals applying on behalf of a household; schools; Lifeline databases; and State, Federal, Local and Tribal Government databases; and third-party identity verifiers.

1. Program Management—Records may be disclosed to USAC employees to conduct official duties associated with the management, operation, and oversight of the ACP, the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD), the National Verifier, and the Representative Accountability Database (RAD), as directed by the Commission.

2. Application, Enrollment, and Recertification—To facilitate the ACP application, enrollment, or recertification processes, records from this system may be disclosed to the individual who originally submitted the records, to the individual to whom the records pertain, or to an authorized representative, entity or organization supporting the individual in the application, enrollment, or recertification process.

3. Third Party Contractors—Records may be disclosed to an employee of a third-party contractor engaged by USAC or a participating provider, or to a subcontractor engaged by a third-party contractor engaged by USAC, to, among other things, develop the ACP Eligibility Database, perform and review eligibility evaluations where the National Verifier conducts such processes for purposes of performing manual eligibility verification (when needed), conduct the eligibility verification or recertification process, run call center and email support operations, assist in dispute resolution, and develop, test, and operate the database system and network.

4. Federal, State, and Local Agencies, Tribal Nations and Agencies, and Other Authorized Government Entities—For purposes of (a) eligibility verification and recertification, including through a computer matching program, (b) providing enrollment and other selected reports, or (c) comparing information contained in NLAD and ACP eligibility, records may be disclosed to designated Tribal Nations; designated Federal, State, Local, and Tribal agencies, including public utility commissions and departments of health and human services; and other authorized governmental entities that share data with USAC or the FCC.

5. Social Service Agencies, Housing Agencies, and Other Approved Third Parties—Records maybe disclosed to social service or housing agencies and other third parties (including nonprofit organizations) that have been approved by the FCC or USAC for purposes of assisting individuals in applying for and recertifying for the ACP.

6. Tribal Nations—Records may be disclosed to Tribal Nations for purposes of assisting individuals in applying for and recertifying for the ACP.

7. Service Providers—Records may be disclosed to broadband providers, and their registered representatives, in order to confirm an individual’s eligibility, complete benefit transfer requests, facilitate the provision of service, complete de-enrollments, allow for the provider to receive reimbursement through the ACP, to provide information to the relevant provider about a registered enrollment representative whose account has been disabled for cause, and provide enrollment and other selected reports.

8. Other Federal Program Eligibility—An individual’s ACP participation status may be disclosed to a Federal agency or contractor, including through a computer matching program, when a Federal program administered by the agency or its contractor uses qualification for the ACP as an eligibility criterion.

9. FCC Enforcement Actions—When a record in this system involves an informal complaint filed alleging a violation of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, or FCC regulations or orders (FCC Rules and Regulations) by an applicant, licensee, certified or regulated entity, or an unlicensed person or entity, the complaint may be provided to the alleged violator for a response. Where a complainant in filing his or her complaint explicitly requests confidentiality of his or her name from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that the request impedes the Commission’s ability to investigate and/or resolve the complaint.

10. Congressional Inquiries—Information maybe provided to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of the individual to whom the information pertains.

11. Government-Wide Program Management and Oversight—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

12. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal (including the Internal Revenue Service to investigate income eligibility verification), State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, order, or other compulsory obligation.

13. Litigation—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

14. Adjudication—Records may be disclosed in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the agency collected the records.

15. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities (including USAC), and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

16. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or Federal entity or USAC, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

17. Department of Treasury—Records may be disclosed to the U.S. Department of the Treasury when disclosure of the information is relevant to review payment and award eligibility through the Do Not Pay Working System for the purposes of identifying, preventing, or recouping improper payments to an applicant for, or recipient of, Federal funds, including funds disbursed by a state (meaning a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a federally recognized Indian tribe) in a state-administered, federally funded program.

18. Prevention of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Disclosure—Records may be disclosed to Federal agencies, non-Federal entities, their employees, and agents (including contractors, their agents or employees; employees or contractors of the agents or designated agents); or contractors, their employees or agents with whom the FCC or USAC has a contract, service agreement, cooperative agreement, or computer matching agreement for the purpose of: (1) detection, prevention, and recovery of improper payments; (2) detection and prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse in Federal programs administered by a Federal agency or non-Federal entity; (3) detection of fraud, waste, and abuse by individuals in their operations and programs, but only to the extent that the information shared is necessary and relevant to verify pre-award and prepayment requirements prior to the release of Federal funds, prevent and recover improper payments for services rendered under programs of the FCC or of those Federal agencies and non-Federal entities to which the FCC or USAC provides information under this routine use.

19. Non-Federal Personnel—Records may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including FCC or USAC contractors, other vendors ( e.g., identity verification services), grantees, or volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC or USAC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records that has not been otherwise identified in this Notice and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

The information pertaining to the ACP includes electronic records, files, data, paper documents, records, and may include audio recordings of calls. Records are maintained in secure, limited-access areas. Physical entry is restricted to authorized users through the use of locks, passwords, and other security measures. Both USAC and its contractors will jointly manage the electronic data housed at USAC and at the contractors’ locations. Paper documents and other physical records ( i.e., tapes, compact discs, etc.) will be kept in locked, controlled-access areas. Paper documents submitted by applicants to the ACP and provider representatives will be digitized, and paper copies will be immediately destroyed after digitization.

Information in the ACP system of records may be retrieved by various identifiers, including, but not limited to the individual’s name, last four digits of the social security number, Tribal identification number, identification number assigned by the Veterans Administration, date of birth, email address, phone number, address, and ACP subscriber identification number.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Records Schedule DAA-0173-2021-0022, Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program)/Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

The electronic records, data, and files are maintained in the FCC and the USAC computer network databases, which are protected by the FCC’s and USAC’s privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by OMB, the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA). In addition, access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized USAC and contractors’, supervisors, and staff;, the FCC’s supervisors and staff in WCB; and to the IT contractors who maintain these computer databases. Other FCC employees and contractors may be granted access only on a "need-to-know" basis. In addition, data in the network servers for both USAC and its contractors will be routinely backed-up. The servers will be stored in secured environments to protect the data. The paper documents, files, and other physical records are maintained in file cabinets in USAC and the contractors’ office suites. The file cabinets are locked when not in use and at the end of the business day. Access to these files is restricted to authorized USAC and its contractors’ staffs.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

89 FR 28780 (Apr. 19, 2024).

WCB-4

FCC/WCB-4, Consumer Challenge Process.

Unclassified.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554; and

Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), 700 12th Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005.

The FCC and, in some cases, USAC on behalf of and under the supervision of the FCC.

47 U.S.C. 151-154, 254; 47 CFR Sections 0.91, 0.291, 1.11.427, 54.310; Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Order on Reconsideration, 33 FCC Rcd 1380, 1390-92, paras. 23-28 (2018);

Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, 34 FCC Rcd 10395 (2019); 47 U.S.C. 641-646;

Establishing the Digital Opportunity Data Collection, WC Docket No. 19-195.

The Consumer Challenge Process system contains information to facilitate challenges to (1) Participant service reports under the DODC or other Commission adjustment programs, on a state-by-state basis, and

(2) Participants’ defined deployment obligations (and associated support) under the USF. In this system, the Commission or USAC, on behalf of the Commission, will gather information to verify the identity of prospective Stakeholders and their direct interests in receiving certain services in the relevant locations. The submitted PII may link one or more individuals to locations and/or commercial interests and services relating to such locations. In some circumstances, prospective Stakeholders must certify that they do not hold a controlling interest in one or more competitors of the Participant that they are challenging.

The individuals in this system include actual and potential consumers of fixed or mobile broadband services; individuals challenging mobile coverage in a specific area; and individuals who submit information to verify their eligibility to challenge a Participant’s location data.

The records in this system may include name, address, email address, phone number, partial Social Security Number (or Tribal Identification Number if no Social Security Number is available), requests for broadband services, commercial records associated with the receipt of residential services and utilities, home ownership, land use rights (including building development), government forms, statements, authorizations, and certifications. Further, such records may include information confirming that individuals do not have a controlling interest in one or more competitors of the Participant being challenged.

The information in the system is provided by individuals who are consumers of fixed or mobile broadband services, residents or property owners in areas where Participants have been authorized (or are eligible to be authorized) to receive universal service support through certain high-cost programs, and government agencies or other entities (e.g., consumer groups) who collect challenges from individuals and submit them in bulk.

1. Program Management – To USAC employees to conduct official duties associated with the management, operation, and oversight of the ELAP as directed by the Commission, including but not limited to, decisions to modify the number of locations (and associated support) that Participants must serve to satisfy their USF obligations.

2. Third Party Contractors – To an employee of any third-party contractor engaged by USAC or the Commission to, among other things, develop IT systems or applications; conduct the Stakeholder eligibility verification process; verify the completeness and accuracy of Participants’ coverage information; develop and maintain relevant maps; and, develop the Commission order modifying the Participants’ defined deployment obligation.

3. Participants — Stakeholder challenge information, including Stakeholder contact information, geolocation, and other location information (e.g., the number of units at a location) will be made available to relevant Participants for the purposes of allowing them to file a reply to Stakeholder challenges.

4. Stakeholders — For ELAP, Stakeholder contact information and certain other challenge information will be made available to other verified Stakeholders filing challenges in the same study area. Other Stakeholders include individuals, entities, and non-Federal agencies, including any State or local government, or agency thereof.

5. Public – Stakeholder geolocation information may be included on coverage maps published on the FCC and/or USAC websites.

6. Congressional Inquiries – To a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

7. Government-Wide Program Management and Oversight – To the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

8. Law Enforcement and Investigation – To appropriate Federal, State, local, or Tribal agencies, authorities, and officials responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal statute, law, regulation, or order.

9. Adjudication and Litigation – To the Department of Justice (DOJ), or to a court or adjudicative body before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC have agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or have an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

10. Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

11. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities – To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

12. Prevention of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Disclosure – To Federal agencies, non-Federal entities, their employees, and agents (including contractors, their agents or employees; employees or contractors of the agents or designated agents); or contractors, their employees or agents with whom the FCC or USAC has a contract, service agreement, or cooperative agreement, for the purpose of: (1) detection and prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse in Federal programs administered by a Federal agency or non-Federal entity; (2) detection of fraud, waste, and abuse by individuals in their operations and programs, but only to the extent that the information shared is necessary and relevant to verify and audit information necessary to determine whether the participant carrier has intentionally or through negligence, reduced its universal service obligations to exclude locations in eligible areas that are the most difficult and/or expensive to serve.

Reporting To A Consumer Reporting Agency:

In addition to the routine uses listed above, the Commission may share information from this system of records with a consumer reporting agency regarding an individual who has not paid a valid and overdue debt owed to the Commission, following the procedures set out in the Debt Collection Act, 31 U.S.C. 3711(e).

The system is maintained in secure, limited access areas. Electronic files are maintained in the FCC or USAC network accreditation boundaries. Physical entry by unauthorized persons is restricted through use of locks, passwords, and other security measures. Paper documents and other physical records, if any, will be kept in locked, controlled access areas until digitized and then destroyed.

Information in this system can be retrieved by various identifiers, which may include Stakeholder name, Social Security Number (Tribal Identification Number if Social Security Number is not available), physical address, geolocation coordinates, property information, e-mail address, telephone number, competitive interests, and supporting evidence.

1. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) established records schedule number DAA-0173-2017-0001-001 for the Universal Service High Cost Program Files. In accordance with this records schedule, the FCC and USAC, as appropriate, will maintain all information in the ELAP system of records for ten (10) years after cut-off, or when no longer needed for business or audit purposes, whichever comes later. Cut-off is determined as the end of the calendar year from the date an item is filed or prepared. Disposal of obsolete or out-of-date paper documents and files is by shredding only. Electronic data, files, and records are destroyed by electronic erasure in compliance with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines.

2. Information in this system of records that is not collected or maintained in connection with the CAF Program Files, including DODC challenge data, will be maintained in accordance with General Records Schedule 5.2, Item 20, which provides that records will be destroyed upon verification of successful creation of the final document or file, or when no longer needed for business use, whichever is later .

1. ELAP-related data: The electronic data, records, and files will be stored within the High-Cost Broadband Portal (HCBP) system accreditation boundaries. The FCC will oversee the management of the HCBP system, including USAC’s records management activities. After a Participant window for filing replies to Stakeholder information closes, access to the electronic files is restricted to the FCC staff and its contractors and subcontractors, as well as USAC and its contractors and subcontractors who carry out ELAP functions and activities. Other FCC employees and contractors and USAC employees, contractors, and subcontractors may be granted access only on a need-to-know basis. The data are protected by the FCC and USAC security safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of information technology (IT) safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT standards, including, but not limited to, those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and NIST.

Employees of the FCC and USAC may print paper copies of these ELAP electronic records for various short-term uses, as necessary. Paper copies will be stored in locked file cabinets when not in use.

Physical entry by unauthorized persons where this information is stored is restricted through use of locks, passwords, and other security measures. Only authorized FCC and USAC employees may have access to these documents. Participants receiving access to the ELAP portion of the HCBP system will be prohibited from printing paper copies when such information contains PII, although they will be permitted to download redacted versions of such information.

2. Non-ELAP data:The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC accreditation boundaries. Access to the electronic files is restricted to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the networks and services. Other FCC employees, contractors, vendors, and users may be granted access on a need-to- know basis. The FCC’s data are protected by the FCC and privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by FISMA, OMB, and NIST. Paper copies will be stored in locked file cabinets when not in use. Physical entry by unauthorized persons where this information is stored is restricted through use of locks, passwords, and other security measures. Only authorized FCC employees and contractors may have access to these documents.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about them should follow the Notification Procedure below.

Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records contains information about them may do so by writing to Margaret Drake at privacy@fcc.gov or Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554, 202-418-1707.

Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity and access to records (47 CFR Part 0, Subpart E).

None.

This is a new system of records.

WCB-6

FCC/WCB-6, USAC Customer Relationship Management.

Unclassified.

Address inquiries to USAC, 700 12th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005; or WCB, FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

47 U.S.C. 151-154, 201-205, 214, 403; Safe Connections Act of 2022, Public Law 117-223, 116 Stat. 2280.

USAC administers the programs of the USF (including the Lifeline, High Cost, Rural Health Care, and E-Rate programs) and certain appropriated programs including the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), Emergency Connectivity Fund Program (ECF), and the COVID-19 Telehealth Program on behalf of the FCC, as set forth in 47 CFR part 54, under the direction of the Commission and, by delegation, of WCB. Under the Memorandum of Understanding Between the FCC and USAC (Dec. 19, 2018), as amended (Nov. 22, 2021) and extended (Dec. 19, 2023) (FCC/USAC MOU), USAC is responsible for the effective administration of the programs, including responding to inquiries from program participants and providing timely and relevant data and analysis to inform the Commission in its policy making and oversight of the USF and appropriated programs. The USAC CRM handles and processes inquiries from individuals, groups, and other entities, for all of the programs administered by USAC. The system allows USAC customer service representatives to access prior related inquiries in order to provide excellent customer service. It includes a portal to allow customers to easily interact with USAC through one channel of communication, maintaining the ability to view case status, create new cases, and review closed cases within the same interface. This system of records includes existing data from the established USF and appropriated programs administered by USAC. The system can also accommodate data from any future programs assigned by the FCC to be administered by USAC. The system allows USAC to retrieve records based on an individual’s information within the system. The CRM system will be launched in phases on a program by program basis. Phase I currently includes High Cost, Rural Health Care, and Finance (Contributions) customer support. Phase II incorporates Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program for customer support. Phase III will commence the consumer portal.

This system of records is maintained to provide a unified tool to enable USAC, on behalf of the FCC, to respond to inquiries from consumers, participants, and stakeholders in the USF and appropriated programs; to inform the FCC of concerns regarding the USF and appropriated programs in support of the agency’s policymaking and enforcement endeavors or otherwise to evaluate the efficiency and administration of FCC programs and to inform future FCC rulemaking activity; to provide consumers with access to a unified portal to view case status, create new cases, and review closed cases; and to provide USAC staff with access to documents and otherwise improve staff efficiency.

The categories of individuals in this system include, but are not limited to, individuals who contact USAC with inquiries concerning USF and appropriated programs administered by USAC on behalf of the FCC. These individuals include, but are not limited to, individuals and representatives of individuals who participate in these programs; individuals making inquiries on behalf of program participants and stakeholders; and employees of USAC, USAC’s vendors, and the FCC.

The categories of records in the system collected by design include first and last name, telephone number, email address, and user ID numbers; service representative names and ID numbers; USAC-assigned identifying numbers, such as Application ID, Eligibility Check ID, or eligibility ID numbers; and the name of the organization associated with the individual. Examples for organization names include but are not limited to carrier and school names. Customers or customer representatives may provide data elements that have not been specifically requested, including date of birth, home address, place of birth, gender, work address, taxpayer ID numbers, facsimile numbers, Social Security numbers (SSNs), mother’s maiden name, information contained in birth, death, or marriage certificates, financial account numbers, employment status, employer identification numbers (EINs), and a driver’s licenses or State ID (or foreign country equivalent). This system of records also includes existing data from the established USF and appropriated programs administered by USAC.

Information systems for established USF and appropriated programs administered by USAC; participants in USF and appropriated programs; participating providers and their registered enrollment representatives; and USAC employees or contractors or FCC employees or contractors.

1. Customer Relations—Records may be disclosed to the individual to whom a record pertains in order to respond to inquiries about that individual’s participation in USF and appropriated programs or otherwise assist that individual.

2. Program Management—Records may be disclosed to USAC employees to conduct official duties associated with the administration of FCC programs or the management, operation, and oversight of the CRM, as directed by the Commission.

3. Third Party Contractors—Records may be disclosed to an employee of a third-party contractor engaged by USAC or a participating provider, or to a subcontractor engaged by a third-party contractor, engaged by USAC, to, among other things, develop the CRM, respond to inquiries concerning USF and appropriated programs, run call center and email support operations, assist in dispute resolution, and develop, test, and operate the database system and network.

4. Service Providers—Records may be disclosed to service providers, and their registered representatives, limited to information that may be required to help resolve a consumer complaint or dispute.

5. State, Tribal, or Local Governmental Agencies and Other Authorized Governmental Entities—Records may be disclosed to State, Tribal, or local government agencies and other authorized governmental entities, including public utility commissions, limited to information that may be required to help resolve a consumer complaint or dispute.

6. FCC Enforcement Actions—When a record in this system involves an informal complaint filed alleging a violation of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, or FCC regulations or orders (FCC Rules and Regulations) by an applicant, licensee, certified or regulated entity, or an unlicensed person or entity, the complaint may be provided to the alleged violator for a response. Where a complainant, in filing his or her complaint, explicitly requests confidentiality of his or her name from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that the request impedes the Commission’s ability to investigate and/or resolve the complaint.

8. Government-Wide Program Management and Oversight—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

9. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal (including the Internal Revenue Service to investigate income eligibility verification), State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, order, or other compulsory obligation.

10. Litigation—Records may be disclosed to the DOJ when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

12. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities (including USAC), and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

13. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

14. Department of Treasury—Records may be disclosed to the U.S. Department of the Treasury when disclosure of the information is relevant to review payment and award eligibility through the Do Not Pay Working System for the purposes of identifying, preventing, or recouping improper payments to an applicant for, or recipient of, Federal funds, including funds disbursed by a state (meaning a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a federally recognized Indian tribe) in a state-administered, federally funded program.

15. Prevention of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Disclosure—Records may be disclosed to Federal agencies, or to an instrumentality of any governmental jurisdiction within or under the control of the United States (including any State, Tribal, or local governmental agency), and their employees and agents (including contractors, their agents or employees; employees or contractors of the agents or designated agents); or contractors, their employees or agents with whom the FCC or USAC has a contract, service agreement, cooperative agreement, or computer matching agreement for the purpose of: (1) detection, prevention, and recovery of improper payments; (2) detection and prevention of fraud, waste, and abuse in Federal programs administered by a Federal agency or non-Federal entity; (3) detection of fraud, waste, and abuse by individuals in their operations and programs, but only to the extent that the information shared is necessary and relevant to verify pre-award and prepayment requirements prior to the release of Federal funds, prevent and recover improper payments for services rendered under programs of the FCC or of those Federal agencies and non-Federal entities to which the FCC or USAC provides information under this routine use.

16. Non-Federal Personnel—Records may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including FCC or USAC contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, or volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC or USAC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records that has not been otherwise identified in this Notice and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

The information pertaining to the CRM includes electronic records, files, data, records, and may include audio recordings of calls. Records are maintained in secure, limited access areas. Physical entry by unauthorized persons is restricted through use of locks, passwords, and other security measures. Both USAC and its contractors will jointly manage the electronic data housed at USAC and contractors will have access to the data at their locations.

Information in the CRM system of records may be retrieved by various identifiers, including, but not limited to the individual’s name or identification number. USAC employees and contractors information can also be retrieved through identifiers including first or last name, title, email address, and username.

Data from USF programs contained in the CRM system are maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Records Schedule DAA-0173-2017-0001. ACP records are maintained and disposed of in accordance with NARA Records Schedule DAA-0173-2021-0022, Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program)/Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Records related to the Connected Care Pilot Program/COVID-19 Telehealth Program are maintained and disposed of in accordance with NARA Records Schedule DAA-0173-2020-0006.

The electronic records, data, and files are maintained in the FCC and the USAC computer network databases, which are protected by the FCC’s and USAC’s privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal IT privacy standards, including those required by OMB, the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA). In addition, access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized USAC and contractors’ supervisors and staff, to the FCC’s supervisors and staff in WCB, and to the IT contractors who maintain these computer databases. Other FCC employees and contractors may be granted access only on a "need-to-know" basis. In addition, data in USAC’s network servers which are accessible by USAC’s contractors will be routinely backed-up. The servers will be stored in secured environments to protect the data.

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records contains information about themselves may do so by writing Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, or to privacy@fcc.gov. Individuals requesting access must also comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity to gain access to the records (47 CFR part 0, subpart E).

None.

89 FR 28774 (Apr. 19, 2024)

IB-1

International Bureau Filing System

Unclassified.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20554.

International Bureau, FCC.

47 U.S.C. 34, 214, 307, 309, 310, 319, 325, and 332; Executive Order 10530 (May 10, 1954); 47 C.F.R. 1.767, 1.768, 1.10000-1.10018, 1.5000-1.5004, 63.09-63.702 and parts 25 and 73 subparts F and H.

The International Bureau Filing System (IBFS) is utilized by the FCC to regulate and process applications and other filings involving authorizations, permits, and licenses, as well as to enforce FCC regulations and the Communications Act of 1934.

Individuals who have an interest in or are otherwise connected to FCC authorizations, permits, and licenses, including those who submit filings connected with these FCC processes.

FCC Registration Number (FRN), name, address, phone number, email address, citizenship, and ownership interests, financial information, and other information relevant to a filing, or an application for or regulation of authorization or license.

Information in this system is provided by individuals, government agencies, or businesses, and from other FCC systems.

1. Public Access – Application, authorization, and licensee records, including attachments, petitions, comments, and other filings, will be publicly available except for material that is afforded confidential treatment, in accordance with section 0.459 the FCC’s rules. Even if afforded confidential treatment, confidential information may be shared with relevant parties to an application pursuant to a Protective Order issued by the FCC. Information filed with a request for confidentiality may be disclosed to other Federal government agencies pursuant to 47 CFR 0.442.

Names and other information about individuals connected to authorizations, permits, and licenses, including those who submit filings, may be disclosed to the public in Public Notices, Orders, Letters, requests for information, or other documents the Commission or an FCC Bureau or Office publishes as part of its duties to enforce the provisions of the Communications Act and the rules promulgated thereunder.

2. Due Diligence – To an FCC Bureau or Office or another government agency, or representative thereof, for purposes of obtaining information so long as it is relevant to the regulation of a license, authorization, or permit or a pending transaction of an FCC-issued license, authorization, or permit.

3. Debt Collection – To the Department of Treasury, State government, or a debt collection agency to collect a claim owed to the FCC.

4. Adjudication and Litigation – To disclose to the Department of Justice (DOJ), or to other administrative or adjudicative bodies before which the FCC is authorized to appear, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC have agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and the use of such records by the DOJ or the FCC is deemed by the FCC to be relevant and necessary to the litigation.

5. Law Enforcement and Investigation—To disclose pertinent information to the appropriate Federal, State, local, tribal agency, or component of an agency, such as the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order, where the FCC becomes aware of an indication of a violation or potential violation of civil or criminal law or regulation.

6. Congressional Inquiries – To provide information to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

7. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight – To provide information to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act; or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

8. Breach Notification – To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of PII maintained in the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information system, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

9. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities – To another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

10. Non-Federal Personnel – To disclose information to non-federal personnel, including contractors, who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

In each of these cases, the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the records is compatible with the purpose for which the records were collected.

REPORTING TO A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:

This an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s network.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., name or email address.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Records Schedule N1-173-11-007.

The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC’s accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

records as required under 47 CFR part 0, subpart E.

None.

This is a new system of records.

os-01

FCC/OS-1, Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).

Unclassified.

Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554 and 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325.

Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

44 U.S.C. chapter 36; 47 U.S.C. 151, 154, and 554; and sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. 794.

The ECFS collects comments and related data or metadata received by the FCC, whether electronically through the ECFS via an Internet web-browser, by mail, by hand delivery of paper copy, or by other methods, as well as other files and records submitted in response to Commission rulemakings and docketed proceedings, and by the FCC’s administrative law staff as the repository for official records for administrative proceedings. In order to comply with the requirements of various statutes and regulations, the FCC offers multiple avenues through which the public can be involved in the FCC decision-making process and can inform the FCC of concerns regarding compliance with FCC rules and requirements. Collecting and maintaining these types of information allows the FCC to be fully informed in decision-making, implementation, and enforcement endeavors. The FCC Enforcement Bureau also uses ECFS to collect and process responses to audits of the EEO programs of MVPDs to enforce compliance with the Commission’s EEO requirements. The ECFS also allows staff access to documents and data necessary for key activities discussed in this SORN including analyzing effectiveness and efficiency of related FCC programs, informing future rule and policy-making activity, and improving staff efficiency. Records in this system are available for public inspection.

Individuals and representatives of groups, companies, and other entities who have filed comments and other files and records in FCC rulemakings and docketed proceedings or other matters arising under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, the Rehabilitation Act, or related statutes, as well as individuals (including EEO complainants and, via the annual EEO Public File Reports submitted therewith, recruitment and referral sources) identified in responses to audits of the EEO programs of MVPDs.

Comments received by the FCC, whether electronically through the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) via an Internet web-browser, by mail, by hand delivery of paper copy, or other methods which include personally identifiable information provided by the filer such as name, home or business address, phone number, and/or email address. ECFS also collects certain network information from a filer and/or user submitting information to the FCC, such as IP address, geolocation, and computer operating system. The system also contains other files and records submitted in response to Commission rulemakings and docketed proceedings, EEO audit responses as well as the annual EEO Public File Reports submitted therein by MVPDs, and records submitted by the FCC’s administrative law staff into ECFS as the repository for official records arising out of the conduct of administrative proceedings.

Information in this system is provided by individuals, groups, companies, and other entities who make or provide comments or other files and records in FCC rulemakings, and docketed proceedings, as well as FCC staff.

1. Public Access—Under the rules of the Commission, public comments as well as other files and records submitted in rulemakings and other docketed proceedings are routinely available to the public—unless confidentiality is requested (47 CFR 0.459)—via the ECFS and may also be disclosed to the public in Commission releases.

2. FCC Enforcement Actions—When a record in this system involves an informal complaint filed alleging a violation of FCC rules, regulations, orders, or requirements by an applicant, licensee, certified or regulated entity, or an unlicensed person or entity, the complaint may be provided to the alleged violator for a response. Where a complainant in filing his or her complaint explicitly requests confidentiality of his or her name from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that the request impedes the Commission’s ability to investigate and/or resolve the complaint.

5. Law Enforcement and Investigation— When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order.

6. Congressional Inquiries—Information may be disclosed to a Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of that individual.

7. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—Information may be disclosed to DOJ to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

8. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of PII maintained in the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information system, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

9. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

10. Non-Federal Personnel—Information may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

This an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s network.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category field, e.g., individual name, entity name, rulemaking number, and/or docket number.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) General Records Schedule 6.6: Rulemaking Records (DAA-GRS-2017-0012).

The electronic records, files, and data are stored in a database housed in the FCC computer network. While comments and other files and records are generally publicly available, access to certain information associated with filings is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.

None.

88 FR 87774 (December 19, 2023).

/OS-2

FCC/OS-2, Integrated Library System (ILS) Records.

Unclassified.

FCC Library, OS, OMD, FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

OS, OMD, FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

44 U.S.C. 3101 and 47 U.S.C. 154(i).

The information is maintained and used to keep track of items borrowed by registered users from the FCC Library’s collection and to ensure that all items are returned to the FCC Library in a timely manner and/or upon a FCC employee’s departure from the Commission.

Current and former FCC employees who have registered as library users.

Information in this system includes records on checked-out and/or checked-in items contained in the FCC Library collection. For each item, and for each individual who checked out/in the item, the records collected may include the individual’s name, telephone number, email address, library barcode identifier (i.e., library patron username), and position category (e.g., attorney, engineer, etc.).

FCC employees who provide information in order to check out materials from the FCC Library.

In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, all or a portion of the records or information contained in this system may be disclosed to authorized entities, as is determined to be relevant and necessary, outside of the FCC as a routine use p 1. Litigation—Records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d) the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and the use of such records by the Department of Justice is for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.

3. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation, and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order.

4. Congressional Inquiries—Records may be provided to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of the individual to whom the records pertain.

5. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—Records may be disclosed to the DOJ to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

7. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to Breaches—Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or Federal entity, when the Commission determines that information from this system is reasonably necessary to assist the recipient agency or entity in: (a) responding to a suspected or confirmed breach or (b) preventing, minimizing, or remedying the risk of harm to individuals, the recipient agency or entity (including its information systems, program, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security, resulting from a suspected or confirmed breach.

This an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC’s network or on an FCC vendor’s network.

Records in this system of records can be retrieved by an authorized FCC user by many category fields—e.g., name, office telephone number, email address, and barcode number.

Information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) General Records Schedule (GRS) 4.4, Library Records (DAA-GRS-2015-0003).

Access to the records is restricted to Office of the Secretary (OS) and IT staff; ILS and IT contractors; and vendors who maintain the networks and services. Other FCC employees, contractors, vendors, and users may be granted access on a "need-to-know" basis. The records are stored within FCC or a vendor’s accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s or vendor’s computer network databases. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

84 FR 18532 (May 1, 2019).

FCC/OET-1, Experimental Licensing System (ELS).

No information in ELS is classified. Experimental license applications that contain classified material are treated in a bifurcated manner, with unclassified data filed in ELS, and the classified portion filed with the FCC’s Security Operations Staff and processed consistent with the FCC’s security regulations. The material filed with the Security Operations Staff is maintained separately from and does not become part of ELS.

OET, FCC, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

Experimental Licensing Branch, OET, FCC, 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.

47 U.S.C. 301, 303, 307, 308.

FCC staff use the information in this system to determine (a) a license applicant’s eligibility to operate a station in the experimental radio service; (b) the interference potential to other radio services; and/or (c) the permissibility of the applicant’s proposed operations under section 5.3 of the Commission’s rules. The system also permits the FCC to collect and maintain information necessary for FCC staff to perform key activities, including analyzing the effectiveness and efficiency of FCC programs and informing rule-making and policy-making activities.

The categories of individuals in this system include individuals who have themselves, or who are associated with entities that have, applied for or have been granted a license to operate an experimental radio station under 47 CFR part 5 of the Commission’s rules; and individuals who have themselves, or who are associated with entities that have, contested applications for licenses, transfers, assignments, and construction, or petitioned to deny or to cancel applicants on behalf of other parties.

The categories of records in this system include:

1. These FCC Forms, any supporting exhibits or documents submitted by the applicant(s) and/or licensee(s), and related documentation: (a) FCC Form 159 Remittance Advice and FCC Form 159-C Continuation Sheet; (b) FCC Form 405, Application for Renewal of Radio Station License in Specified Services; (c) FCC Form 442, Application for New or Modified Radio Station Authorization Under Part 5 of FCC Rules - Experimental Radio Service (Other than Broadcast); (d) FCC Form 702, Application for Consent to Assign an Experimental Authorization; (e) FCC Form 703, Application for Consent to Transfer Control of Corporation Holding Station License; and (f) Special Temporary Authority (STA) under 47 CFR 5.61 of the Commission’s rules.

2. Personally identifiable information (PII) included in experimental project reports submitted by the applicant(s) and/or licensee(s) as required by 47 CFR part 5 of the Commission’s rules, including name, mailing address, email address(es), and telephone number(s).

3. Information included in comments from other FCC bureaus/offices and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on frequency interference potential, coordination of operation(s), validity of a project or experiment, and use of a project or experiment in rulemakings.

4. Contested applications for licenses, transfers, assignments, and construction, or petitions to deny or to cancel applicants on behalf of other parties.

The sources of information in this system of records are applicants and licensees, who provide the information on one or more FCC forms, special temporary authorities (STAs), and/or any supporting exhibits submitted by the applicants and/or licensees or other related documentation; individuals who have contested applications for licenses, transfers, assignments, and construction, or petitioned to deny or to cancel applicants on behalf of other parties; and FCC bureau and office staff and NTIA staff generating relevant data during the normal processing of the application.

1. Public Access—Information from this system is posted at: https://www.fcc.gov/els for public inspection, in response to a request, and in connection with new experimentation. The information will not be disclosed if a request that the information be given confidential treatment is pending or has been granted under 47 CFR 0.459.

2. NTIA—Records from this system may be shared with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for purposes of coordinating spectrum use that could affect federal government spectrum bands and their assigned users.

5. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order.

6. Congressional Inquiries—Records may be provided to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry made at the written request of the individual to whom the records pertain.

7. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—Records may be disclosed to DOJ to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

8. Breach Notification—Records may be disclosed to appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) The Commission suspects or has confirmed that there has been a breach of the system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to individuals, the Commission (including its information systems, programs, and operations), the Federal Government, or national security; and (c) the disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is reasonably necessary to assist in connection with the Commission’s efforts to respond to the suspected or confirmed breach or to prevent, minimize, or remedy such harm.

10. Non-Federal Personnel—Records may be disclosed to non-Federal personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged to assist the FCC in the performance of a service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.

Electronic records in this system reside on the FCC or a vendor’s network.

Records can be retrieved by, among other things, the licensee name. If there is more than one station per licensee, then the files may be also retrieved by call sign. Scanned images, electronic records of data elements, and electronic copies of licenses may be retrieved from the OET Experimental Licensing Branch Report electronic filing and reporting website using various search fields, including name and call sign, at: https://apps.fcc.gov/els.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Records Schedule DAA-0173-2016-0003, Experimental Licensing System (ELS).

OET makes all records available to the public at: https://www.fcc.gov/els, except files that have been submitted in compliance with the confidentiality request requirement of 47 CFR 0.459. When not publicly available, the electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC or a vendor’s accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s or vendor’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

84 FR 27115 (June 11, 2019).

FCC/OET-2, Equipment Authorization Electronic Filing System (EAS).

Unclassified.

OET, Laboratory Division, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 7435 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046.

Chief, Laboratory Division, OET, FCC, 7435 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046.

47 U.S.C. 302a; 47 U.S.C. 1601 note.

The records in this system document the compliance with FCC requirements and interference potential of radio frequency equipment proposed for marketing. The system also permits the FCC to collect and maintain information necessary for FCC staff to perform key activities, including analyzing the effectiveness and efficiency of FCC programs and informing rule-making and policy-making activities.

Individuals who have applied for or been granted an authorization to market radio frequency equipment, in accordance with Part 2 of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) rules; individuals who are responsible for testing and determining compliance of the equipment that is subject to the relevant authorization; and individuals responsible for assessing, accrediting, and designating those individuals responsible for testing and determining compliance of equipment.

1. FCC Form 731, Application for Equipment Authorization, and any exhibits, test reports, and other supporting documentation submitted by an applicant that demonstrates compliance with the rules for radio frequency equipment.

2. Entity management information (collected by webform) and attachments regarding accrediting bodies, designating authorities, and conformity assessment bodies (which includes both Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs) and test labs).

Information in this system is supplied by individuals applying to receive equipment authorization, individuals who are responsible for testing and determining compliance of the equipment that is subject to the relevant authorization, and individuals responsible for assessing, accrediting, and designating those individuals who are responsible for testing and determining compliance of equipment.

In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, all or a portion of the records or information contained in this system may routinely be disclosed as follows:

1. Public Access—Information from this system related to granted equipment authorizations or any individuals associated with entities covered by this system may be disclosed to the public if it is routinely available for public inspection under 47 CFR 0.457(d)(1)(ii) and a request has not been made or granted to give the information confidential treatment under 47 CFR 0.459. Pending equipment authorization requests are specifically excluded from disclosure prior to the effective date of the authorization, as specified in 0.457(d)(1)(ii).

4. Law Enforcement and Investigation—When the FCC investigates any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law, regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system, either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal, state, local, Tribal, international, or multinational agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule, regulation, or order.

5. Congressional Inquiries—Records may be provided to a Congressional office in response to an inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of that individual to whom the records pertain.

6. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight—Records may be disclosed to DOJ to obtain that department’s advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to obtain that office’s advice regarding obligations under the Privacy Act.

This an electronic system of records that resides on the FCC or a vendor’s network.

Scanned images, electronic records of data elements, and electronic copies of granted equipment authorizations, as well as information about individuals associated with entities covered by the system, may be retrieved from the OET EAS website at https://apps.fcc.gov/tcb/TcbHome.do by clicking on the desired link in the Reports section on the left hand side of the page. Records may be retrieved using a variety of parameters.

The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in accordance with NARA Records Schedule DAA-0173-2019-0001, Office of Engineering and Technology - Laboratory Division Records.

OET makes all records, documents, and files available to the public except: (1) files that are not routinely available for public inspection as defined in 47 CFR 0.457(d)(1)(ii); and/or (2) files that have been submitted in compliance with the confidentiality request requirement of 47 CFR 0.459. When not publicly available, the electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC or a vendor’s accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed in the FCC’s or vendor’s computer network databases. Access to the electronic files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on a need-to-know basis. The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedures below.

None.

65 FR 17242 (April 5, 2006).