Release in the Public Use Database of Certain Mortgage Data and Annual Housing Activities Report (AHAR) Information of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), 69022-69032 [05-22420]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 217 (Thursday, November 10, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69022-69032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22420]



[[Page 69021]]

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Part IV





Department of Housing and Urban Development





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24 CFR Part 81



Release in the Public Use Database of Certain Mortgage Data and Annual 
Housing Activities Report (AHAR) Information of the Federal National 
Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
Corporation (Freddie Mac); Final Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 217 / Thursday, November 10, 2005 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 69022]]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Part 81

[Docket No. FR-4947-F-02]
RIN 2501-AD09


Release in the Public Use Database of Certain Mortgage Data and 
Annual Housing Activities Report (AHAR) Information of the Federal 
National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan 
Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac)

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner, HUD.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends HUD's regulations to permit the release 
to the public of certain data and information that have been, and will 
be, submitted to HUD by the Federal National Mortgage Association 
(Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie 
Mac) (collectively, the government sponsored enterprises, or GSEs). 
These amendments allow for the release of GSE mortgage data that fall 
into three categories, as identified in HUD's proposed rule. The first 
category involves HUD's public release of GSE mortgage data that the 
Secretary, by regulation or order, reclassifies from proprietary to 
non-proprietary status. Following the Secretary's determination to 
reclassify such data as non-proprietary, HUD will release the GSE 
mortgage data to the public both prospectively and for all preceding 
years' public use databases. The second category involves HUD's public 
release of certain GSE aggregated data derived from proprietary loan-
level mortgage data that the Secretary determines are not proprietary 
when presented in aggregated form. Following the Secretary's 
determination that such aggregations of GSE data are not proprietary, 
HUD will release the data to the public both prospectively and for all 
preceding years. The third category involves the release of certain GSE 
mortgage data that are at least five years old that the Secretary 
determines, by regulation or order, to re-classify from proprietary to 
non-proprietary status because of the passage of time. This final rule 
provides that such data may, as determined by the Secretary on a case-
by-case basis, lose proprietary status once the data have aged a 
minimum of five years, with the time interval for particular data 
elements to be determined by the Secretary. The final rule also amends 
HUD's regulations at 24 CFR 81.75 to incorporate the procedures the 
Secretary will use to make determinations under each of the above 
categories and makes certain technical and editorial changes to 24 CFR 
81.74 and 81.75.
    This final rule follows publication of a January 10, 2005, proposed 
rule and takes into consideration the public comments received in 
response to the proposed rule.

DATES: Effective Date: December 12, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra Fostek, Director, Office of 
Government Sponsored Enterprises, Office of Housing, Room 3150, 
telephone (202) 708-2224. For questions on data, contact John L. 
Gardner, Director, Financial Institutions Regulation Division, Office 
of Policy Development and Research, Room 8212, telephone (202) 708-
1464. For legal questions, contact Paul S. Ceja, Assistant General 
Counsel for Government Sponsored Enterprises/RESPA, or Sharmeen Dosky, 
Senior GSE/RESPA Division Attorney, Office of the General Counsel, Room 
9262, telephone (202) 708-3137. The address for all of these persons is 
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC, 20410-0500. Persons with hearing and speech 
impairments may access the phone numbers via TTY by calling the Federal 
Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8399.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act 
of 1992 (FHEFSSA), Pub. L. 102-550, approved October 28, 1992, requires 
HUD to establish and monitor the performance of Fannie Mae and Freddie 
Mac in meeting annual goals for purchases of mortgages on housing for 
low- and moderate-income families, housing located in central cities, 
rural areas, and other underserved areas, and special affordable 
housing (i.e., housing meeting the needs of and affordable to low-
income families in low-income areas and very low-income families).
    Fannie Mae submits mortgage data and AHAR information to HUD under 
sections 309(m) and (n), respectively, of the Fannie Mae Charter Act 
(12 U.S.C. 1723a(m) and (n)). Freddie Mac makes these submissions to 
HUD under sections 307(e) and (f), respectively, of the Freddie Mac Act 
(12 U.S.C. 1456(e) and (f)).\1\
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    \1\ HUD defines the term ``mortgage data'' at 24 CFR 81.2 to 
mean ``data obtained by the Secretary from the GSEs under subsection 
309(m) of the Fannie Mae Charter Act and subsection 307(e) of the 
Freddie Mac Charter Act.''
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    Section 1323 of FHEFSSA requires HUD to make available to the 
public data submitted to HUD by the GSEs relating to the GSEs' mortgage 
purchases. HUD makes much of this data available to the public via its 
GSE public use database, compendia, and other means. However, the law 
prohibits the Secretary from disclosing mortgage data that he or she 
determines to be proprietary.\2\ Specifically, section 1326 of FHEFSSA 
states that the Secretary may, by regulation or order, ``provide that 
certain information shall be treated as proprietary information and not 
subject to disclosure under section 1323 of [title 12 of the United 
States Code], section 309(n)(3) of the [Fannie Mae Charter Act], or 
section 307(f)(3) of the [Freddie Mac Act].'' \3\
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    \2\ HUD's regulations at 24 CFR 81.2 define the term 
``proprietary information'' to mean ``all mortgage data and all AHAR 
information that the GSEs submit to the Secretary in the AHARs that 
contain trade secrets or privileged or confidential, commercial, or 
financial information that, if released, would be likely to cause 
substantial competitive harm.''
    \3\ In addition to FHEFSSA's prohibition on the disclosure of 
GSE proprietary information, HUD's regulations at 24 CFR 81.72(c)(1) 
prohibit the release of certain types of mortgage data and AHAR 
information, including mortgage data and AHAR information that would 
``constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy if 
such data or information were released to the public'' (citing 24 
CFR 81.72(b)(3)) or that are ``required to be withheld or * * * 
[that are] not appropriate for public disclosure under other 
applicable laws and regulations, including the Trade Secrets Act * * 
* and Executive Order 12600'' (citing 24 CFR 81.72(b)(4)).
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    This prohibition on the disclosure of proprietary information is 
repeated in section 1323(b)(1) of FHEFSSA, which states, in part, that 
``* * * the Secretary may not make available to the public data that 
the Secretary determines pursuant to section 1326 are proprietary 
information.'' Thus, the Secretary is authorized by section 1326 of 
FHEFSSA to make determinations, by regulation or order, that certain 
GSE mortgage data are proprietary, except as expressly prohibited by 
section 1323(b)(2) of FHEFSSA.\4\
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    \4\ The exception set forth in paragraph (2) of section 1323(b) 
of FHEFSSA states that the Secretary may not restrict access to GSE 
single-family mortgage data submitted to the Secretary under section 
309(m)(1)(A) of the Fannie Mae Charter Act or section 307(e)(1)(A) 
of the Freddie Mac Act relating to ``the income, census tract 
location, race, and gender of mortgagors under such mortgages.''
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    Under HUD's regulations at 24 CFR 81.75, the Secretary issues a 
temporary order, final order, or regulation to withhold mortgage data 
or AHAR information from the public use database and from public 
disclosure and

[[Page 69023]]

may, by regulation or order, issue a list providing that certain 
mortgage data and AHAR information shall be treated as proprietary 
information. HUD first issued such a list by order in 1995,\5\ modified 
it by order in 1996 \6\ and again in 2004.\7\ In these orders, the list 
took the form of tables that indicated the organization and contents of 
the public use databases that were subsequently issued by HUD covering 
the GSEs' annual purchases since 1993.
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    \5\ See Appendix F to HUD's 1995 final housing goals rule, which 
set forth an order identifying the list of data elements that HUD 
had determined under section 1326 of FHEFSSA to be proprietary and 
those data elements that it had determined to be non-proprietary, at 
60 FR 62001-5.
    \6\ See HUD's final order published on October 17, 1996 (61 FR 
54322).
    \7\ See HUD's final order published on October 4, 2004 (69 FR 
59476).
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    As noted, on October 4, 2004, HUD published in the Federal Register 
a notice of final order reclassifying as non-proprietary certain loan-
level mortgage data elements contained in the GSEs' annual loan-level 
data files that will be submitted by the GSEs to HUD pursuant to their 
charter acts (the 2004 Final Order). The Department's determinations 
with respect to the proprietary status of the mortgage data elements 
were discussed in the 2004 Final Order. The resulting revised structure 
of the public use database was summarized in the revised tables 
attached to the 2004 Final Order as an appendix. The 2004 Final Order 
indicated that the Department would, beginning in 2005, release the 
reclassified data elements through the Department's public use database 
covering the GSEs' 2004 mortgage purchases and in all future public use 
databases.\8\
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    \8\ Id. at 69 FR 59482.
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    On January 10, 2005, HUD published in the Federal Register a 
proposed rule (70 FR 1774) in which it proposed to release to the 
public certain mortgage data and aggregated data that have been, and 
will be, submitted to HUD by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the 2005 
Proposed Rule). Following are the categories of data that HUD proposed 
to release to the public. The reader should note that these are the 
same categories that HUD described in the 2005 Proposed Rule. However, 
for the sake of clarity, HUD is now describing each of these three 
categories separately, rather than combining into one category the 
prospective and prior years' release of reclassified mortgage data and 
aggregated data.
     Prospective and prior years' release of reclassified data. 
Following a Secretarial determination to modify the list of proprietary 
determinations by reclassifying certain GSE mortgage data as non-
proprietary, the Secretary would release to the public the 
reclassified, non-proprietary mortgage data both prospectively and for 
all years preceding the effective date of HUD's determination, unless 
otherwise provided by the Secretary. This GSE mortgage data would be 
released to the public via HUD's GSE public use database. (See 24 CFR 
81.75(b)(2).)
     Prospective and prior years' release of non-proprietary 
aggregations of data. Following a Secretarial determination that 
certain aggregated data derived from proprietary loan-level mortgage 
data are not proprietary when presented in aggregated form, HUD 
proposed to release to the public the non-proprietary aggregations of 
data both prospectively and for all years preceding the effective date 
of the Secretary's determination, unless otherwise provided by the 
Secretary. These aggregations of data would be released to the public 
in the form of a compendium, or by other means. (See 24 CFR 81.75(c).)
     Release of non-proprietary aged data. Following a 
Secretarial determination to reclassify as non-proprietary certain GSE 
mortgage data included on the list of proprietary determinations that 
are at least five years old, HUD proposed to release to the public the 
reclassified aged data. Specifically, HUD proposed that data classified 
as proprietary that have aged a minimum of five years could be subject 
to reclassification as non-proprietary data for release to the public 
because of the passage of time. HUD noted that the time interval for 
particular data elements would be determined by the Secretary on a 
case-by-case basis. (See 24 CFR 81.75(b)(3).) HUD sought public 
comment, in particular, on whether five years represented a reasonable 
minimum period after which mortgage data might lose their proprietary 
character and, as a result, warrant a reconsideration of proprietary 
status under HUD's regulations. Public comment also was solicited on 
whether a longer or shorter period should be adopted in the final rule, 
and the point at which the period should begin to run.

II. Discussion of Public Comments

A. Overview of Comments

    HUD received four public comments in connection with the 2005 
Proposed Rule. Comments were received from the National Association of 
Home Builders (NAHB), America's Community Bankers (ACB), Fannie Mae, 
and Freddie Mac.
    NAHB expressed support for the 2005 Proposed Rule, stating that the 
rule appropriately balanced the need to protect the privacy of 
borrowers, lenders, and the proprietary needs of the GSEs, with 
Congress' intent to increase the transparency and public accountability 
of the GSEs by providing the public with as much data as possible 
regarding the GSEs' mortgage purchases. NAHB maintained that the 2005 
Proposed Rule contained valid safeguards and measures to protect the 
privacy of consumers and the GSEs' business platforms.
    ACB expressed support for increased transparency and disclosure of 
GSE data to help the public measure the GSEs' performance against their 
mission responsibilities and against the private market. However, ACB 
also indicated that HUD's proposed reclassification and release of 
additional data might subject the GSEs and, as a result, the GSEs' 
sellers/servicers, to financial and competitive harm.
    The GSEs objected to several aspects of the 2005 Proposed Rule 
claiming that the rule, if implemented, could result in an infringement 
on the GSEs' property rights in their proprietary data with resulting 
significant competitive harm. The GSEs also expressed concerns that the 
rule would result in the release of data that could violate consumers' 
privacy.
    Following is a more in-depth discussion of the public comments, and 
HUD's determinations in response to the comments.

B. Discussion of Public Comments

    Comment: Proposed regulatory procedures fail to provide GSEs with 
due process. Both GSEs asserted that HUD's proposed procedures for 
reclassifying data are inadequate and fail to provide the GSEs with due 
process so that they can protect important property rights in their 
proprietary data. They maintained that the proposed adoption of the 
procedures in 24 CFR 81.74(f)(1) and (2) for reclassifications of 
mortgage data are inappropriate when HUD, rather than a GSE, is 
initiating the proprietary determination process.
    Fannie Mae also disputed HUD's assertion in the 2005 Proposed Rule 
that the proposed adoption of the procedures in Sec.  81.74(f) for use 
in connection with reclassifications of data under Sec.  81.75 
``represents a codification of existing practice * * *.'' Fannie Mae 
contended that, in the past, whenever HUD has initiated a 
reclassification of data, it has provided the GSEs with significantly 
more opportunities to analyze, consider, and respond in writing to 
HUD's

[[Page 69024]]

proposals than that afforded by Sec.  81.74(f).
    Fannie Mae urged HUD to include in the final rule a number of 
procedural protections, including the following: (1) HUD would be 
required, prior to making a determination, to notify the GSEs in 
writing of the actual data elements and/or aggregated data that are 
under consideration for release to the public; (2) HUD's written notice 
would contain the basis for the reclassification of the data elements 
and an assessment of the factors contained in Sec.  81.74(b); (3) HUD 
would provide the GSEs with a minimum of 30 days in which to submit 
written comments; (4) after reviewing the GSEs' written comments, HUD 
would provide each GSE with an opportunity to meet to discuss the 
effect of the proposed public release; (5) after the meeting, HUD may 
request additional information or make a determination; and (6) if HUD 
decides to make the data elements or aggregated data non-proprietary, 
it will provide notice to the GSEs of its determination and state that 
the Secretary will not release the data for 10 working days.
    HUD Determination. HUD has considered the GSEs' comments and is 
persuaded by some of these comments and, as a result, has made several 
changes to Sec.  81.75 at this final rule stage. However, HUD is not 
persuaded by other GSE comments and, as a result, has not incorporated 
these suggested changes in this final rule. A discussion of each of 
HUD's determinations follows.
    In response to the GSEs' expressed concerns that the procedures in 
existing Sec.  81.74(f)(1) and (2) are inappropriate when HUD, rather 
than a GSE, initiates the proprietary determination process, HUD has 
determined that it would be simpler and more straightforward to 
incorporate the applicable procedures into Sec.  81.75. These are the 
procedures the Secretary will use whenever he or she proposes to issue 
an order authorizing the release of reclassified mortgage data or AHAR 
information, or aggregations of data derived from proprietary loan-
level mortgage data. As a result of this change, HUD has eliminated its 
proposed cross-references in Sec.  81.75(b)(1) and (c) to the 
regulatory procedures in Sec.  81.74(f)(1) and (f)(2), and has instead 
established the applicable procedures in a new Sec.  81.75(d).
    A review of Sec.  81.75(d) reveals that it largely incorporates the 
procedures that currently exist in Sec.  81.74(f)(1) and (f)(2). 
However, HUD has made changes to some of those procedures as a result 
of its consideration of the GSEs' comments on the proposed rule.
    Specifically, HUD has adopted in Sec.  81.75(d)(1) Fannie Mae's 
recommendation to notify the GSEs in writing of the actual data 
element(s), AHAR information, and/or aggregated data that are under 
consideration for release to the public.
    HUD has not, however, adopted Fannie Mae's suggestion that the 
written notice include the basis for HUD's proposed reclassification of 
the data elements since any reclassification that HUD undertakes must 
be based upon the Secretary's consideration of all of the regulatory 
factors in Sec.  81.74(b).
    In addition, HUD has not adopted Fannie Mae's suggestion that the 
written notice include HUD's assessment of the data proposed to be 
reclassified under each of the regulatory factors in Sec.  81.74(b). 
HUD does not prepare this assessment until it has completed any fact-
finding that it considers to be necessary in connection with a proposed 
reclassification of mortgage data. (For example, HUD would want to have 
the benefit of the GSEs' perspectives and input with respect to any 
proposed release of its mortgage data or AHAR information before HUD 
develops its assessment of the relevant mortgage data elements or AHAR 
information under the regulatory factors in Sec.  81.74(b).)
    HUD also has determined not to adopt Fannie Mae's recommendation 
that the rule provide the GSEs with a minimum of 30 days in which to 
submit written comments. HUD believes that a 30-day minimum period may 
not be an appropriate period of time, in every instance, for the 
submission of written comments in connection with a proposed 
reclassification of mortgage data or AHAR information. As a result, HUD 
believes that it is appropriate for it to retain the discretion to 
determine, on a case-by-case basis, what constitutes a reasonable 
period of time by which the GSEs must submit their written comments.
    HUD's current regulations at 24 CFR 81.74(f)(1) state that the 
Secretary, in considering a GSE's proprietary request, ``shall provide 
the GSE with an opportunity for a meeting with HUD to discuss the 
matter for the purpose of gaining additional information concerning the 
request.'' Because HUD is providing the GSEs in Sec.  81.75(d)(1) with 
the opportunity to submit written comments in connection with any 
proposed release of GSE mortgage data, AHAR information or aggregated 
data, HUD does not believe that it is necessary to require, in each 
instance, that HUD also offer to hold a meeting with the GSEs before 
making its determination. While such a meeting may be necessary when a 
GSE initiates the request for proprietary determination so that the 
Secretary can gain ``additional information concerning the request,'' 
HUD believes that it may not always be necessary where the Secretary 
has initiated a proposed release of mortgage data, AHAR information, or 
aggregated data.
    Accordingly, Sec.  81.75(d)(1) provides that the ``Secretary may 
also provide each GSE with an opportunity for a meeting with HUD to 
discuss the proposed release of mortgage data, AHAR information or 
aggregated data.'' (Emphasis added.) HUD believes that this 
discretionary authority to hold a meeting strikes a necessary and 
careful balance between HUD's obligation to provide the GSEs with an 
opportunity to object to any proposed release of their mortgage data, 
AHAR information, or aggregated data (in this final rule, by the 
submission of written comments), while also streamlining the 
administrative process sufficiently that non-proprietary mortgage data, 
AHAR information, or aggregated data can be made available to the 
public in an efficient manner. To the extent that the Secretary 
determines that it would be helpful, before making a determination, to 
meet with the GSEs individually to discuss the proposed release of 
mortgage data, AHAR information, or aggregated data, he or she will 
arrange to do so.
    Section 81.75(d)(2) of this final rule provides that the Secretary 
shall make a determination regarding the proposed release of the GSEs' 
mortgage data, AHAR information, or aggregated data based on a 
consideration of the data or information under the standards set forth 
in Sec.  81.74(b) and the GSEs' written and oral objections, if any, to 
the proposed release of the mortgage data, AHAR information, or 
aggregated data. This language is consistent with the current 
requirements in Sec. Sec.  81.74(b) and 81.74(f)(2), except that HUD 
has now added a requirement that the Secretary must consider, in making 
his or her determination, the GSEs' written comments objecting to the 
proposed release of the mortgage data, AHAR information, or aggregated 
data. If the Secretary, or his or her designee, has also met with the 
GSEs about the proposed release of mortgage data, AHAR information, or 
aggregated data, the Secretary also is required by Sec.  81.75(d)(2) to 
consider the GSEs' oral objections, if any.
    New Sec.  81.75(d)(3) states that the Secretary shall provide 
notice in writing to each GSE of the Secretary's determination and the 
reasons under Sec.  81.74(b) for his or her determination. In addition, 
consistent with HUD's

[[Page 69025]]

existing regulations at Sec.  81.74(f)(2)(ii) and Fannie Mae's own 
request, new Sec.  81.75(d)(3) states that whenever the Secretary 
determines that GSE mortgage data, AHAR information, or aggregated data 
may be released, the written notice must also provide that the 
Secretary will not release the mortgage data, AHAR information, or 
aggregated data to the public for 10 working days.
    New Sec.  81.75(d)(4) states that the Secretary shall, no earlier 
than the end of the 10 working day period, publish an order in the 
Federal Register notifying the public of the Secretary's determination 
to release the reclassified mortgage data or AHAR information and/or to 
release certain non-proprietary aggregations of data derived from 
proprietary loan-level mortgage data. The order will also modify the 
list of proprietary determinations to reflect the Secretary's 
reclassification of the mortgage data or AHAR information. This 
procedure is consistent with existing Sec.  81.75, which states that 
the Secretary ``may modify the list [of HUD proprietary determinations] 
by regulation or order.'' Section 81.75(d)(4) also states that the 
Secretary shall omit from the published order any information that 
would reveal proprietary information. This language is consistent with 
existing Sec.  81.74(e)(1)(ii), which requires that the Secretary 
exclude from public disclosure any portion of an order or regulation 
that would reveal proprietary information.
    HUD believes that the changes described above will go far in 
clarifying the procedures the Secretary will use in considering 
reclassifications of GSE mortgage data and AHAR information and the 
release of certain aggregated data derived from proprietary loan-level 
mortgage data. While these procedures largely incorporate existing 
requirements established by HUD in Sec.  81.74(f)(1) and (2), they also 
reflect changes that HUD believes to be appropriate in light of its 
dual statutory obligations to ensure that proprietary mortgage data or 
AHAR information are not released to the public, while also providing 
the public with the GSEs' non-proprietary mortgage data or AHAR 
information. As discussed above, these changes were made by HUD either 
in response to the GSEs' comments, or as an outgrowth of HUD's 
consideration of the GSEs' comments.
    Comment: Rule fails to provide third parties with due process. 
Fannie Mae noted that HUD, in promulgating this rule, must balance the 
public's desire for data against important objectives of protecting 
property rights and consumer privacy. Fannie Mae asserted that even 
though HUD's regulations require the Secretary to protect the 
confidentiality of information the release of which would ``constitute 
a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy,'' they do not 
provide guidance on how HUD would represent the interests of third 
parties whose privacy might be affected by the determination. (See 24 
CFR 81.72(b)(3).) In particular, Fannie Mae expressed concern that the 
Secretary's release of historical data for the years 1993-2003 in 
connection with the mortgage data elements that were reclassified as 
non-proprietary in the 2004 Final Order (``1993-2003 Historical Data'') 
could allow the creation of borrower profiles with personally 
identifiable information that could be used irresponsibly by predatory 
lenders.
    Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both asserted that the procedures in the 
2005 Proposed Rule were defective because they do not require HUD to 
provide notice to, and consider written comments from, ``all affected 
parties'' before the Secretary makes a reclassification determination.
    Freddie Mac asked HUD to consider whether the process for 
reclassifying information should generally be done by a rulemaking or, 
in the alternative, to identify the circumstances under which a 
rulemaking may be more appropriate for reclassifying information than 
through an order. ACB expressed similar views, urging HUD to proceed by 
public rulemaking whenever a pending determination could impact the 
availability of loan-level information about specific lenders' 
business, either directly or through cross-reference to any available 
third-party data. ACB, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac each asked HUD to 
give all affected parties the right to comment on whether a rulemaking 
would be more appropriate in light of the public interest in the 
proposed disclosures.
    HUD Determination. HUD has considered the public comments and 
determined that no additional protections are required in this final 
rule to protect the privacy rights of third parties. As Fannie Mae has 
correctly noted, HUD's existing regulations already require the 
Secretary to ensure that data or information submitted by, or relating 
to, the GSEs that would constitute a ``clearly unwarranted invasion of 
personal privacy'' are not disclosed to the public. (See 24 CFR 
81.71(e) and 81.72(b)(3).) HUD already has regulatory standards in 
place at 24 CFR 81.74(b) that enable the Secretary to protect the 
privacy rights of third parties. (See, for example,Sec.  81.74(b)(4), 
which requires the Secretary to consider ``[t]he extent to which the 
mortgage data or AHAR information is publicly available including 
whether the data or information is available from other entities, from 
local government offices or records, including deeds, recorded 
mortgages, and similar documents, or from publicly available 
databases.'') HUD believes that these existing standards are sufficient 
to permit the Secretary to guide its proprietary determinations and 
ensure that the privacy rights of third parties are not violated.
    For this same reason, HUD does not agree that the procedures 
described in the 2005 Proposed Rule are ``defective'' because they do 
not require HUD to provide notice to, and consider written comments 
from, ``all affected parties'' before the Secretary makes a 
reclassification determination.
    HUD also does not believe it is necessary or appropriate to 
restrict the circumstances under which HUD may undertake a 
reclassification determination by order rather than regulation. HUD is 
authorized by section 1326 of FHEFSSA to make proprietary 
determinations ``by regulation or order,'' and HUD's existing 
regulations at 24 CFR 81.75 also authorize the Secretary to modify a 
prior proprietary determination by regulation or order. In light of 
HUD's statutory obligation under FHEFSSA to ensure that the GSEs' non-
proprietary mortgage data and AHAR information are made available to 
the public, and the regulatory standards that already exist to protect 
the interests of third parties, HUD does not believe that the public 
interest would be served by curtailing its authority to undertake a 
reclassification determination by order.
    Comment: Rule should be amended to include additional regulatory 
factors. Fannie Mae urged HUD to amend its regulations to include a 
consideration of the following two factors in connection with 
proprietary determinations: (1) The extent to which data released by 
HUD can be used singularly, or in conjunction with other information in 
the public domain, to ascertain confidential, private, or personal 
information about consumers, the GSEs' business partners, real estate 
assets, and/or residents of properties financed by mortgages purchased 
by the GSEs; and (2) the extent to which data may assist in the 
planning and perpetration of terrorist acts, fraud, and/or other 
malicious acts against real estate properties, individuals, business 
entities, or communities.
    With regard to its second proposed factor, Fannie Mae cited a 
Department of Homeland Security warning about

[[Page 69026]]

terrorist groups that might target ``apartment buildings, hotels and 
other soft or lightly secured targets in the United States.'' \9\ 
Fannie Mae contended that incorporating these factors into HUD's 
regulations will help to ensure that any changes to proprietary 
treatment of loan-level or aggregated data involve a consideration of 
the interests of all parties, as well as other security interests that 
were not significant concerns at the time the original public use 
database regulations were developed.
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    \9\ Citing remarks by former Secretary Tom Ridge, former 
Attorney General John Ashcroft, and Director Robert Mueller, U.S. 
Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Press Secretary, 
February 7, 2003.
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    HUD Determination. After considering Fannie Mae's recommendation, 
HUD has decided not to amend its regulations to add these two 
additional regulatory factors. With regard to Fannie Mae's first 
recommendation, HUD believes that its existing regulations at Sec.  
81.74(b) already require the Secretary to consider the extent to which 
mortgage data or AHAR information are publicly available, including 
whether the data or information are available from other entities, from 
local government offices or records, or from publicly available 
databases (e.g., through the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) 
database or other public and/or private vendors). (See Sec.  
81.74(b)(4).)
    HUD considers Fannie Mae's second recommendation to be unnecessary 
since anyone seeking information on properties from the HUD public use 
database would not be able to obtain information at the same level of 
detail that is already available in the public domain. For example, 
property street addresses are not available in the HUD public use 
database.
    In light of the Secretary's clear statutory duty under FHEFSSA to 
release to the public GSE mortgage data and AHAR information that are 
not proprietary, and the comprehensive nature of the Secretary's 
current assessment under HUD's regulations at Sec.  81.74(b), HUD does 
not believe that the addition of these two new regulatory factors is 
necessary or warranted.
    Comment. Five-year aging period. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both 
objected strongly to the proposed five-year time period after which 
mortgage data might lose their proprietary character and, as a result, 
warrant a reconsideration of proprietary status under HUD's 
regulations. Fannie Mae maintained that aged data continue to provide 
it with value, and that certain aged data are more valuable to 
competitors after several years than at the time of origination. Fannie 
Mae expressed particular concern about the five-year time period in 
connection with its multifamily business where loans typically have 
maturities ranging from nine to ten years.
    Freddie Mac affirmed that five years is a short period of time when 
considering long-term obligations like mortgages, and asserted that the 
release of five-year-old proprietary data still presents privacy 
concerns to consumers and potentially could still cause harm to Freddie 
Mac and its customers.
    In particular, Freddie Mac disputed HUD's assertion in the 2005 
Proposed Rule that significant portions of the GSE mortgage data that 
it had previously determined to be proprietary are now ``available 
publicly through private vendors.'' Freddie Mac maintained that its 
data are different from other data that can be purchased from a data 
broker over the Internet because ``borrowers provided this information 
to a mortgage lender under penalty of federal law'' and, as a result, 
may be subject to civil liability or criminal penalties for intentional 
or negligent misrepresentation of application information.
    Freddie Mac also asserted that the Federal government's decision to 
enact the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6801, et seq., enacted 
November 12, 1999) to regulate the use and disclosure of information 
provided to financial institutions, while choosing not to regulate 
other types of entities that may collect some of the same information, 
recognizes that financial institution information is ``significantly 
more sensitive'' than information available through other public 
sources.
    Both GSEs asserted that HUD's 2005 Proposed Rule establishes a 
``presumption'' that data lose their proprietary character after only 
five years, and each vigorously disputed the validity of such a 
presumption. Freddie Mac urged HUD to abolish such a ``presumption'' 
and to review all six of the regulatory factors in 24 CFR 81.74(b) 
before deciding whether to proceed with a reclassification of 
proprietary information.
    Freddie Mac also asserted that other proprietary data collected by 
the government have no ``time-release provisions'' or have much 
lengthier ``time release provisions.'' Freddie Mac stated that HMDA has 
no ``time-release provision'' or ``presumption,'' and that the U.S. 
Census of Population and Housing does not publicly release individual-
level data for 72 years. In addition, Freddie Mac noted that, under the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(3), the ``time 
release'' or ``default presumption'' under which information can become 
public after a submitter has requested confidentiality is 10 years.
    However, NAHB commented that the ``five year aging requirement'' in 
proposed Sec.  81.75(b)(3) establishes a satisfactory method of 
respecting the privacy expectations associated with relevant mortgage 
data elements, and noted specifically that five years is ``a 
significant amount of time.''
    HUD Determination. HUD has decided to retain the minimum five-year 
aging period for reclassifications of mortgage data because of the 
passage of time, but has decided to make three clarifying changes to 
its regulations in response to the public comments it received.
    HUD believes that the five-year period is a reasonable minimum 
period of time after which mortgage data might lose their proprietary 
character and, as a result, warrant a reconsideration of proprietary 
status under HUD's regulations. However, as stated in the 2005 Proposed 
Rule, the five-year period is a minimum aging requirement that applies 
to reclassifications based on the age of the mortgage data. The 
Secretary will determine the actual time intervals for reconsideration 
of the proprietary status of particular mortgage data elements on a 
case-by-case basis.\10\ (See HUD's discussion of this issue at 70 FR 
1775 of the 2005 Proposed Rule.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ As discussed in Section I of this preamble, any such HUD 
reconsideration would be subject to the limitations of 24 CFR 
81.72(c)(1), which prohibits the Secretary from publicly disclosing 
certain types of mortgage data and AHAR information, including 
mortgage data and AHAR information, the release of which would 
constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, that 
are required to be withheld, or that the Secretary determines are 
not appropriate for public disclosure under other applicable laws 
and regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This case-by-case assessment of particular mortgage data elements 
contradicts the GSEs' contentions that the five-year minimum period 
establishes a ``presumption'' that data lose their proprietary 
character after only five years. Nevertheless, HUD has decided to 
clarify this point by revising the first sentence of Sec.  81.75(b)(3) 
to state, ``[t]he Secretary may determine, through case-by-case 
consideration of individual data elements under paragraph (b)(1) of 
this section, that certain mortgage data previously determined to be 
proprietary may lose their proprietary status if they are at least five 
years old * * *'' (Emphasis added.)
    With regard to Freddie Mac's assertion that HUD should abolish the 
five-year ``presumption'' and review all

[[Page 69027]]

six of the regulatory factors in 24 CFR 81.74(b) before deciding 
whether to proceed with a reclassification of proprietary information, 
HUD reiterates that this is precisely what HUD intends to do. HUD 
attempted to make this point when it stated in the 2005 Proposed Rule 
that the ``Secretary would make his or her determination [regarding the 
re-classification of aged data] based upon a consideration of the 
regulatory factors in Sec.  81.74(b).'' (Emphasis added.) (See 70 FR 
1777.) In this final rule, HUD has made two changes to further clarify 
this point.
    First, HUD has included a sentence in Sec.  81.75(b)(3) which 
states, ``[t]he Secretary will evaluate the age of the data as one of 
the relevant factors that may be considered under 24 CFR 81.74(b)(6).'' 
(Emphasis added.)
    Second, HUD has amended the regulatory factors that the Secretary 
considers when determining the proprietary status of mortgage data 
under Sec.  81.74(b)(6) to specifically include a reference to the age 
of the mortgage data. This second amendment is intended to further 
clarify that the Secretary's consideration of the age of mortgage data 
under Sec.  81.75(b)(3) is just one of the regulatory factors that must 
be evaluated.
    While Freddie Mac may contend that its data are qualitatively 
superior to mortgage data that can be purchased from a data broker over 
the Internet because ``borrowers provided this information to a 
mortgage lender under penalty of federal law,'' this reasoning would 
presumably support treating all GSE mortgage data as proprietary and 
preclude HUD from releasing any such data to the public. Such an 
outcome would be clearly untenable and inconsistent with HUD's 
statutory obligation under FHEFSSA to disclose the GSEs' non-
proprietary mortgage data to the public.
    With regard to Freddie Mac's assertion that the Gramm-Leach-Bliley 
Act constitutes implicit federal recognition that financial institution 
information is ``significantly more sensitive'' than information 
available through other public sources, HUD notes that Congress has 
enacted a very specific statutory regime in section 1323 of FHEFSSA 
that requires the Secretary to disclose to the public the GSEs' non-
proprietary mortgage data. Since the GSEs derive their mortgage data 
from the financial institutions/mortgage sellers from whom they 
purchase the mortgages, the enactment of section 1323 of FHEFSSA 
reflects the clear intent of Congress to ensure and regulate the public 
disclosure of non-proprietary financial institution information 
provided by mortgage sellers to the GSEs.
    With regard to Freddie Mac's comment that other proprietary data 
collected by the government have no ``time-release provisions,'' or 
have much lengthier ``time release provisions,'' HUD is uncertain as to 
the meaning that Freddie Mac is imputing to the term ``time-release 
provision.'' If Freddie Mac means that GSE mortgage data previously 
determined by HUD to be proprietary will be reclassified as non-
proprietary automatically after five years under Sec.  81.75(b)(3), 
then this interpretation is mistaken and neither the 2005 Proposed Rule 
nor this final rule contain a ``time release provision.'' While HUD's 
consideration of the regulatory factors in Sec.  81.74(b) could 
potentially result in the release of certain GSE mortgage data after 
five years, the Secretary may well determine that other mortgage data 
should be kept confidential for 10, 20, or even 50 years.
    Moreover, regardless of HUD's determination under Sec.  81.75(b)(3) 
with respect to any particular mortgage data element, HUD will not 
implement its determination until it has completed an analysis of the 
mortgage data under the six regulatory factors in Sec.  81.74(b) and 
fully complied with the due process procedures described in this final 
rule. HUD believes that its re-evaluation of GSE proprietary mortgage 
data to ensure that these data continue to qualify as proprietary is 
fully consistent with the Secretary's affirmative duty and obligation 
under section 1323 of FHEFSSA to ``make available to the public * * *'' 
the data submitted by [the GSEs under their charter acts],'' except for 
mortgage data that are proprietary.
    HUD reiterates, as it previously noted in the 2005 Proposed Rule, 
that the addition of Sec.  81.75(b)(3) to govern the release of certain 
mortgage data that have aged a minimum of five years does not limit 
HUD's current ability under Sec.  81.75 to seek, at any time, to 
reclassify GSE mortgage data from proprietary to non-proprietary 
status. This is because Sec.  81.75(b)(3), as added by this final rule, 
deals only with the reclassification and release of aged GSE mortgage 
data. This provision is independent of, and does not remove or limit, 
HUD's existing authority under Sec.  81.75 (Sec.  81.75(b)(1) of this 
final rule) to modify a prior proprietary determination by 
reclassifying GSE mortgage data as non-proprietary. (See HUD's prior 
discussion of this matter in the 2005 Proposed Rule at 70 FR 1774, 
1778.)
    (For a discussion of how HUD's release of GSE mortgage data under 
Sec.  81.75(b)(3) compares with the release of GSE mortgage data under 
HUD's regulations implementing Exemption 4 of FOIA at 24 CFR 
15.108(b)(1), see the 2005 Proposed Rule at 70 FR 1777.)
    Comment. Release of historical data constitutes retroactive 
rulemaking. Fannie Mae claimed that the proposed rule constitutes a 
``retroactive rulemaking'' with respect to each of the three 
circumstances in which it would allow for the public release of the 
GSEs' historical data that has previously been determined by HUD to be 
proprietary. Fannie Mae described these three categories as: (1) The 
release of GSE data that have already been determined to be 
proprietary, upon HUD's determination that the data field in question 
will no longer be afforded proprietary status; (2) proprietary data 
that are at least five years old; and (3) aggregated data derived from 
historical proprietary loan-level data that would be released upon 
HUD's determination that the data is not proprietary in aggregated 
form.
    Fannie Mae stated further that, absent explicit authorization by 
Congress, no government agency has statutory authority to issue 
regulations that have a ``retroactive effect'' and that Congress did 
not grant HUD explicit authority to promulgate such rules when it 
enacted FHEFSSA. In addition, Fannie Mae claimed that the courts, in 
determining whether a measure has retroactive effect, consider 
``whether it would impair rights a party possessed when he acted, 
increase a party's liability for past conduct, or impose new duties 
with respect to transactions already completed.'' (Citing Georgetown 
Hospital v. DirectTV, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, 110 
F.3d 816, 825-826 (D.C. Cir. 1997).) Fannie Mae maintained that, based 
upon a consideration of these factors, the 2005 Proposed Rule would, 
when implemented, have a retroactive effect because the GSEs submit 
their proprietary data to HUD with the ``reasonable expectation that 
the data will remain proprietary indefinitely,'' and that HUD's release 
of this data will place the GSEs at a competitive disadvantage in the 
market and impair their property rights in their historical mortgage 
data.
    HUD Determination. HUD has considered Fannie Mae's comments and, 
for the reasons discussed below, disagrees that the current rulemaking 
has a ``retroactive effect.''
    Initially, HUD notes that the GSEs, as federally chartered 
corporations, submit their mortgage data to HUD because of a statutory 
obligation imposed upon them by their charter acts. (See section 309(m) 
of the Fannie Mae Charter Act, 12 U.S.C. 1723a(m), and section 307(e)

[[Page 69028]]

of the Freddie Mac Act, 12 U.S.C. 1456(e).) HUD, as the GSEs' housing 
mission regulator, has a statutory obligation under section 1323 of 
FHEFSSA to release the GSEs' non-proprietary mortgage data and AHAR 
information to the public. The legislative history of FHEFSSA expressly 
provides that ``* * * every effort should be made to provide public 
disclosure of the information required to be collected and/or reported 
to the regulator [HUD] consistent with the exemption for proprietary 
data.'' \11\ The GSEs have been aware of these parallel statutory 
obligations as they have continued to submit their mortgage data to HUD 
over the years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See S. Rep. No. 102-282, 102nd Cong., 2d Sess. 40 (1992).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Moreover, since 1995 when HUD first promulgated regulations 
establishing requirements governing the GSEs (60 FR 61888, December 1, 
1995), HUD's public use database regulations at 24 CFR 81.75 have 
expressly stated that ``[t]he Secretary may modify the list [of HUD 
proprietary determinations] by regulation or order.'' HUD has also 
stated, in each of the proprietary determination orders that it has 
issued since 1995, that the order will remain effective until such time 
as it is determined necessary or appropriate to withdraw or modify it.
    In light of the above express statutory and regulatory framework, 
and the notice provided to the GSEs in each of HUD's prior orders that 
the proprietary determinations could be withdrawn or modified ``as * * 
*'' determined necessary or appropriate,'' HUD cannot agree with Fannie 
Mae that the GSEs have submitted their mortgage data to HUD with a 
``reasonable expectation'' that the data previously determined by HUD 
to be proprietary will remain proprietary indefinitely.
    There is no question that the GSEs have a legitimate property right 
in mortgage data that qualify, in fact, as proprietary information, and 
that HUD is statutorily required by section 1326 of FHEFSSA to ensure 
that such data are not released to the public. However, the GSEs do not 
have a permanent and incontrovertible property right in mortgage data 
simply because HUD, at a prior point in time, made a determination that 
such data are proprietary.
    As previously noted, the GSEs submit their mortgage data to HUD 
because they are statutorily obligated to do so and they, in turn, have 
received numerous benefits as a result of their federally chartered 
status as GSEs. The GSEs have also been on notice--by virtue of HUD's 
statutory obligations in section 1323 of FHEFSSA, HUD's regulatory 
authority in 24 CFR 81.75 to amend prior proprietary determinations, 
and the conditional nature of HUD's prior orders--that HUD's 
proprietary determinations are conditional in nature and may be 
modified and superseded.
    The GSEs are entitled to due process before HUD can modify any 
prior proprietary determination, and this final rule ensures that the 
GSEs are provided with both notice and an opportunity to comment on any 
proposed reclassification of mortgage data or AHAR information. In 
addition, the GSEs have the right to receive HUD's written analysis of 
any proposed reclassification of mortgage data element(s) or AHAR 
information under the regulatory factors in 24 CFR 81.74(b), and to 
seek judicial recourse during a ten-working-day period before HUD will 
release the mortgage data or AHAR information to the public. (See the 
discussion of procedural safeguards governing the release of GSE 
historical mortgage data later in this preamble.) HUD believes that 
these procedural safeguards provide a reasoned and balanced approach 
that will enable it to carry out its twin statutory responsibilities of 
making ``* * * every effort * * * to provide public disclosure of the 
information required to be collected and/or reported to [HUD] 
consistent with the exemption for proprietary data.'' \12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ See S. Rep. No. 102-282, 102nd Cong., 2d Sess. 40 (1992).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comment: GSE historical data continue to be legally protected from 
disclosure; Discussion of applicable procedures. Fannie Mae objected to 
HUD's statement in the proposed rule that it intended to release 
historical ``GSE mortgage data that HUD has determined to be non-
proprietary for the years 1993 through 2003, including GSE mortgage 
data that HUD has determined in the 2004 Final Order to be non-
proprietary.'' (See 70 FR 1777.) In addition to Fannie Mae's assertion 
that HUD's release of this historical data constitutes ``retroactive 
rulemaking'' (see HUD's determination in response to this comment, 
above), Fannie Mae raised a number of other arguments in support of why 
it believes HUD's release of this historical data would be unlawful.
    Initially, Fannie Mae asserted that FHEFSSA, HUD's regulations, 
FOIA, and the Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. 1905, all compel HUD to 
continue to protect data subject to an order determining such data to 
be proprietary.
    More specifically, Fannie Mae noted that section 1323(b)(1) of 
FHEFSSA prohibits the Secretary from releasing to the public data that 
the Secretary has determined to be proprietary. Since all of the 
historical data that HUD advised, in the 2005 Proposed Rule, would be 
released following the effective date of this final rule has already 
been determined by the Secretary to be proprietary, Fannie Mae asserted 
that HUD's release of this historical data would violate FHEFSSA.
    Fannie Mae also maintained that HUD's release of this historical 
data would violate HUD's regulations. The GSE noted that 24 CFR 
81.74(b) requires HUD to apply six factors when making a determination 
of whether to accord proprietary treatment to mortgage data or AHAR 
information, ``[e]xcept as provided in paragraph [81.74](c) * * *.'' 
(Emphasis added.) Fannie Mae asserted that the exception carved out in 
Sec.  81.74(c) means that the Secretary must grant a request for 
proprietary treatment where ``the request for proprietary treatment 
pertains to mortgage data or AHAR information that has been deemed 
proprietary by the Secretary under a temporary order, final order, or 
regulation in effect * * *.'' Fannie Mae claimed that since all of the 
historical data that HUD stated it would release following the 
effective date of this final rule are subject to an effective final 
order finding the data to be proprietary, the Secretary does not have 
the authority to apply the new provisions of Sec.  81.75(b) and (c) to 
this historical data as the proposed rule appears to contemplate.
    Fannie Mae also claimed that FOIA and HUD's implementing 
regulations protect from disclosure data that HUD has determined to be 
proprietary. Fannie Mae asserted that matters ``specifically exempted 
from disclosure by statute'' may not be released where the statute: 
``(A) requires that the matters be withheld from the public in such a 
manner as to leave no discretion on the issue; or (B) establishes 
particular criteria for withholding or refers to particular types of 
matters to be withheld.'' Fannie Mae maintained that FHEFSSA satisfies 
both prongs of this FOIA test since it protects historical data that 
have been designated proprietary by HUD, and since FHEFSSA also 
prohibits the Secretary from releasing proprietary data.
    Fannie Mae also asserted that the historical mortgage data that HUD 
would release are protected by the Trade Secrets Act, which prohibits 
the unauthorized disclosure of a wide range of information by Federal 
officials, including confidential commercial or

[[Page 69029]]

financial information, statistical information, and information that 
would disclose the amount or source of income, profits, or losses. 
Fannie Mae stated that the Trade Secrets Act restricts ``formal agency 
action'' and applies even to actions approved by an agency head. Fannie 
Mae maintained that application of the procedures in the 2005 Proposed 
Rule, as currently drafted, and HUD's release of its historical 
mortgage data, could constitute a violation of the Trade Secrets Act 
because the data to be released ``are of the type'' covered by the 
Trade Secrets Act and have already been deemed proprietary under HUD's 
statutory mandate and effective regulations.
    Fannie Mae further stated that HUD failed to include in the 2005 
Proposed Rule a ``reconsideration'' of the factors in 24 CFR 81.74(b) 
that HUD is required to consider before it can determine that the 1993-
2003 historical data are no longer proprietary. For this reason, Fannie 
Mae asserted that HUD has no authority to release this historical data 
to the public after the effective date of this final rule.
    HUD Determination. After a thorough consideration of each of Fannie 
Mae's comments, HUD has concluded that it has the legal authority to 
release the GSEs' historical mortgage data in accordance with the 
procedures set forth in this final rule. HUD's reasoning, and its 
response to each of Fannie Mae's comments, is set out below.
    With regard to Fannie Mae's comment that section 1323(b)(1) of 
FHEFSSA prohibits the Secretary from releasing to the public data that 
the Secretary has determined to be proprietary, HUD notes that section 
1326 of FHEFSSA broadly confers on the Secretary the authority to 
determine, through either regulation or order, ``that certain 
information shall be treated as proprietary information and not subject 
to disclosure under section 1323.'' Inherent in this authority is the 
Secretary's authority to reconsider and modify a prior determination 
that information is proprietary. This inherent authority is expressed 
in HUD's existing regulations at 24 CFR 81.75, which authorize HUD to 
make a determination that mortgage data or AHAR information are 
proprietary under FHEFSSA and to issue a list providing that certain 
information shall be treated as proprietary information, but also 
expressly authorizing the Secretary to ``modify the list by regulation 
or order.'' Consequently, FHEFSSA does not act as a statutory bar to 
prohibit HUD's release of GSE mortgage data that HUD has properly 
reclassified as non-proprietary, but only prohibits HUD's release of 
the GSEs' proprietary data.
    As noted, Fannie Mae also asserts that HUD's release of the 1993-
2003 historical data pertaining to the mortgage data elements that were 
granted proprietary status under HUD's 1996 final order (the 1996 Final 
Order) would violate 24 CFR 81.74(c). This HUD regulatory provision 
states that ``[w]here the request for proprietary treatment pertains to 
mortgage data or AHAR information that has been deemed proprietary by 
the Secretary under a temporary order, final order, or regulation in 
effect, the Secretary shall grant the request with respect to any 
mortgage data or AHAR information which comes within the order or 
regulation.'' (Emphasis added.) Fannie Mae maintains that since all of 
the historical data are subject to an effective final order finding the 
data to be proprietary, the Secretary does not have the authority to 
apply the new provisions of Sec.  81.75(b) and (c) to this historical 
data as the proposed rule appears to contemplate.
    HUD does not agree with Fannie Mae's interpretation of 24 CFR 
81.74(c). This provision essentially means that the Secretary must 
honor any GSE request for proprietary treatment with respect to 
mortgage data or AHAR information that have been determined by the 
Secretary to be proprietary under an order or regulation ``in effect.'' 
HUD's 1996 Final Order granted proprietary status to the mortgage data 
elements that HUD subsequently reclassified as non-proprietary in its 
2004 Final Order. However, the 2004 Final Order was limited, by its 
terms, to the prospective release of these mortgage data elements. HUD 
intends, following the publication of this final rule, to initiate 
proceedings under Sec.  81.75(b)(2) to reclassify as non-proprietary 
some or all of these mortgage data elements in prior years' public use 
databases. These proceedings will be conducted in accordance with Sec.  
81.75(d), which includes a requirement that the Secretary analyze each 
data element that is proposed to be reclassified under the regulatory 
factors in 81.74(b), and provide notice in writing to each GSE of his 
determination under these factors. In the event that the Secretary 
determines that some or all of these data elements no longer qualify as 
proprietary information, an order will be issued withdrawing and 
modifying the 1996 Final Order, as expressly authorized by that Order. 
In such case, the 1996 Final Order would no longer be ``in effect'' 
with respect to the reclassified data elements and Sec.  81.74(c) would 
not act as a regulatory bar on the Secretary's authority to release 
some or all of the GSEs' reclassified, non-proprietary historical 
mortgage data.
    HUD also does not agree with Fannie Mae that its historical 
mortgage data that are reclassified as non-proprietary are protected 
from disclosure by FOIA. For the reasons already discussed above, HUD 
does not believe that mortgage data elements that the Secretary has 
determined, by official agency action, to reclassify as non-proprietary 
will nevertheless retain into perpetuity their prior proprietary 
designation. Not only does such an interpretation contradict the clear 
legislative history to FHEFSSA, quoted earlier, which strongly supports 
HUD's release to the public of the GSEs' non-proprietary data, but it 
also contradicts a reasonable interpretation of HUD's prior public use 
database orders.
    Moreover, HUD does not agree with Fannie Mae that its release of 
the GSEs' historical mortgage data in accordance with the procedures 
described in this final rule would violate the Trade Secrets Act. The 
Trade Secrets Act provides, in part, that:

    Whoever, being an officer or employee of the United States or of 
any department or agency thereof * * * publishes, divulges, 
discloses, or makes known in any manner or to any extent not 
authorized by law any information coming to him in the course of his 
employment or official duties or by reason of any examination or 
investigation made by, or return, report or record made to or filed 
with, such department or agency or officer or employee thereof, 
which information concerns or relates to the trade secrets, 
processes, operations, style of work, or apparatus, or to the 
identity, confidential statistical data, amount or source of any 
income, profits, losses, or expenditures of any person, firm, 
partnership, corporation, or association * * * shall be fined under 
this title, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and shall 
be removed from office or employment. (Emphasis added.)

HUD notes initially that its regulations at 24 CFR 81.2 define the term 
``[p]roprietary information'' to mean ``all mortgage data and all AHAR 
information that the GSEs submit to the Secretary in the AHARs that 
contain trade secrets or privileged or confidential, commercial, or 
financial information that, if released, would be likely to cause 
substantial competitive harm.'' (Emphasis added.) Thus, when the 
Secretary conducts a regulatory analysis to determine whether GSE 
mortgage data or AHAR information are proprietary based on the criteria 
in 24 CFR 81.74(b), he or she considers whether the data or information 
qualify as a trade secret, the release of which would be likely to 
cause substantial

[[Page 69030]]

competitive harm. The Secretary will not reclassify as non-proprietary 
mortgage data or AHAR information that the Secretary determines qualify 
as a trade secret and which, if released, would be likely to cause 
substantial competitive harm because, by definition, such a trade 
secret qualifies under HUD's regulations as ``proprietary 
information.''
    Consequently, when the Secretary makes a determination, based on 
the standards in Sec.  81.74(b) and the requirements of Sec. Sec.  
81.75(b)(2) and 81.75(d), that particular GSE mortgage data elements do 
not qualify as proprietary information and, thus, may be released to 
the public, his or her subsequent disclosure of that information is not 
actionable under the Trade Secrets Act because it is fully ``authorized 
by law.''

III. Other Changes in This Final Rule

    HUD has also, at its own initiative, made three technical 
clarifications to Sec. Sec.  81.75(b)(1), (b)(2), and 81.75(c) at this 
final rule stage.
    HUD's existing regulations at Sec.  81.75 state that, following a 
determination by