Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records, 11526-11529 [2021-03927]
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11526
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 36 / Thursday, February 25, 2021 / Notices
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND
DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
The National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA) has not
established a records schedule for the
information in the Emergency
Broadband Benefit Program system of
records. Consequently, until NARA has
approved a records schedule, USAC will
maintain all information in the
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
system of records will be maintained in
accordance with NARA records
management directives.
RECORDS ACCESS PROCEDURES:
Individuals wishing to request access
to and/or amendment of records about
themselves should follow the
Notification Procedure below.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
Individuals wishing to request an
amendment of records about themselves
should follow the Notification
Procedure below.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
Individuals wishing to determine
whether this system of records contains
information about themselves may do so
by writing Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), Washington, DC
20554, Privacy@fcc.gov. Individuals
Jkt 253001
None.
HISTORY:
This is a new system of records.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
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 the National Institute
of Standard and Technology (NIST) and
the Federal Information Security
Management System (FISMA). In
addition, access to the electronic files is
restricted to authorized USAC and
contractors’ supervisors and staff and 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-toknow’’ 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.
17:04 Feb 24, 2021
EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
[FR Doc. 2021–03928 Filed 2–24–21; 8:45 am]
ADMINSTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL
SAFEGUARDS:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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).
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[FR ID 17502]
Privacy Act of 1974; System of
Records
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of a modified system of
records.
AGENCY:
The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC or Commission or
Agency) is modifying an existing system
of records, FCC/WCB–1, Lifeline
Program, subject to the Privacy Act of
1974, as amended. This action is
necessary to meet the requirements of
the Privacy Act to publish in the
Federal Register notice of the existence
and character of records maintained by
the agency. The Lifeline Program (or
‘‘Lifeline’’) provides discounts for one
Lifeline Program telephone per
household (voice telephony) and
broadband internet access service
(BIAS) to qualifying low-income
individuals. Individuals may qualify for
Lifeline through proof of income or
participation in another qualifying
program. Since the Telecommunications
Act of 1996 (1996 Act), the Lifeline
Program has been administered by the
Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) under the direction of
the Commission and, by delegation, of
the Commission’s Wireline Competition
Bureau (WCB).
This system of records contains
information about individuals who have
applied to participate in the Lifeline
Program, respondents to consumer
surveys related to the Lifeline program,
and enrollment representatives. The
modifications described in this notice
will allow USAC to maintain and
administer this system in a manner that
promotes efficiency and minimizes
waste, fraud, and abuse.
SUMMARY:
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Written comments are due on or
before March 29, 2021. This action
(including the routine uses) will become
effective on March 29, 2021 unless
comments are received that require a
contrary determination.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Margaret
Drake, Senior Agency Official for
Privacy, Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, or to privacy@
fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Margaret Drake, (202) 418–1707, or
privacy@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice serves to update and modify
FCC/WCB–1, Lifeline Program. The
Lifeline Program serves low-income
individuals by providing qualifying
individuals with discounts on one
Lifeline Program telephone per
household and BIAS service. Since the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996
Act), the Lifeline Program has been
administered by the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC) under
the direction of the Commission and, by
delegation, of WCB.
The substantive changes and
modifications to the previously
published version of the FCC/WCB–1
system of records include:
(a) Updating the purpose for
maintaining this system of records to
simplify the section for readability, and
include using the personally identifiable
information (PII) to develop consumer
survey and enrollment, and to facilitate
monitoring of enrollment
representatives;
(b) Updating the categories of records
maintained in this system of records to
simplify for readability, and include
information requested for consumer
survey development and execution,
information requested to facilitate
monitoring of enrollment
representatives, addresses based on
geographic coordinates (geolocation),
internet Protocol (IP) address, Lifeline
subscriber application number, and
enrollment representative unique
identifier numbers (Representative ID
Number);
(c) Updating the source of records
maintained in this system of records to
simplify the section for readability,
include respondents to a consumer
survey, and to better define individuals
acting as agents who are now
considered enrollment representatives;
(d) Updating language in various
routine uses: (1) FCC/USAC Program
Management; (2) Third Party
Contractors; (3) Business Process
Outsourcing (BPO); (5) State Agencies
and Other Authorized State Government
DATES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 36 / Thursday, February 25, 2021 / Notices
Entities; (6) Social Service Agencies and
Other Approved Third Parties; (8) Tribal
Nations; (9) Service Providers; (12)
Government-Wide Program
Management and Oversight; (18)
Computer Matching Program Disclosure;
and, (20) Contract Services, Grants, or
Cooperative Agreements;
(e) Removing routine use ‘‘Income
and Program Eligibility Records’’ as
duplicative of routine uses (5) and (7);
(f) Adding a routine use to permit an
individual’s Lifeline participation or
qualification status to be shared with a
Federal agency or contractor when a
federal program administered by the
agency or its contractor uses
qualification for Lifeline as an eligibility
criterion; and
(g) Adding a routine use to facilitate
consumer survey development and
execution.
The system of records is also updated
to reflect various administrative changes
related to the system managers and
system addresses; update the Policies
and Practices for Retention and Disposal
of Records to describe the National
Archives and Records Administration
(NARA) records schedule for this
system; administrative, technical, and
physical safeguards; and updated
notification, records access, and
contesting records procedures.
SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER: FCC/WCB–1,
LIFELINE PROGRAM.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
No information in the system is
classified.
Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB),
Federal Communications Commission
(FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC
20554.
SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): 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.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
47 U.S.C. 151–154, 201–205, 214, 254,
403. 47 CFR Sections 54.400–54.423.
PURPOSE(S):
The Lifeline Program provides
discounts for one Lifeline telephone
service per household (voice telephony),
BIAS service, and the initial connection
charge in Tribal areas to support such
17:04 Feb 24, 2021
Jkt 253001
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE
SYSTEM:
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 individuals that
respond to a consumer survey
developed using information in this
system; and individuals acting as
enrollment representatives and
providing information directly or
indirectly into USAC’s Lifeline Systems
on behalf of an ETC to enroll
subscribers, recertify subscribers, or
update subscriber information in the
Lifeline Program.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
SYSTEM LOCATION(S): UNIVERSAL SERVICE
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPANY (USAC), 700 12TH
STREET NW, SUITE 900, WASHINGTON, DC 20005;
AND
VerDate Sep<11>2014
service, to qualifying low-income
individuals. Individuals may qualify for
Lifeline through proof of income or
proof of participation in another
qualifying program. 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 representative; and
consumer surveys.
The categories of records in the
system include first and last name of the
applicant, other household members, 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; whether someone resides
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; 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
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11527
digits of his or her social security
number, email address, residential
address, or other identity proof
documentation.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
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.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE
SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND
THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
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 the FCC as a routine
use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as
follows. In each of these cases, the FCC
will determine whether disclosure of
the records is compatible with the
purpose(s) for which the records were
collected:
1. FCC/USAC Program Management—
To the FCC and 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. Third Party Contractors—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.
3. Business Process Outsourcing
(BPO) Entity—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.
4. State Agencies and Other
Authorized State Government Entities—
To designated State agencies and other
authorized governmental entities,
including State public utility
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 36 / Thursday, February 25, 2021 / Notices
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.
5. Social Service Agencies and Other
Approved Third Parties—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.
6. Federal Agencies—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.
7. Tribal Nations—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.
8. Service Providers—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. 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:04 Feb 24, 2021
Jkt 253001
representative whose account has been
disabled for cause, and provide
enrollment and other selected reports to
service providers.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
13. Other Federal Program
Eligibility—To disclose an individual’s
Lifeline participation or qualification
status 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—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, including but
not limited to notifying the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate
income eligibility verification.
15. Adjudication and Litigation—To
the Department of Justice (DOJ), in a
proceeding before a court, or other
administrative or adjudicative 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;
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Frm 00034
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(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 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.
16. Breach Notification—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.
17. Assistance to Federal Agencies
and Entities—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.
18. Computer Matching Program
Disclosure—To Federal, State, and local
agencies, and 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).
19. 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,
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 36 / Thursday, February 25, 2021 / Notices
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 nonFederal entities to which the FCC or
USAC provides information under this
routine use.
20. Contract Services, Grants, or
Cooperative Agreements—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 accomplish an agency function
related to a system of records.
Disclosure requirements are limited to
only those data elements considered
relevant to accomplishing an agency
function. Individuals who are provided
information under these routine use
conditions are subject to Privacy Act
requirements and disclosure limitations
imposed on the Commission.
21. Consumer Survey Development
and Execution—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 a consumer survey 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.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF
RECORDS:
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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:04 Feb 24, 2021
Jkt 253001
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF
RECORDS:
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.
11529
RECORDS ACCESS PROCEDURES:
Individuals wishing to request access
to and/or amendment of records about
themselves should follow the
Notification Procedure below.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
Individuals wishing to request an
amendment of records about themselves
should follow the Notification
Procedure below.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND
DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
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–
2017–0001–0002. Records maintained
in connection with the Lifeline Program
will be destroyed 10 years after the year
it was created or when no longer needed
for business or audit purposes,
whichever comes later. The FCC and
USAC dispose of paper documents by
shredding. Electronic records, files, and
data are destroyed either by physical
destruction of the electronic storage
media or by erasure of the data.
ADMINSTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL
SAFEGUARDS:
The electronic records, data, and files
are maintained in the FCC and the
USAC computer network databases,
which are protected by the FCC’s
privacy safeguards, a comprehensive
and dynamic set of safety and security
protocols and features that are designed
to meet all Federal privacy standards,
including those required by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB),
National Institute of Standard and
Technology (NIST) and the Federal
Information Security Management
System (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-toknow’’ 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.
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Frm 00035
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Individuals wishing to determine
whether this system of records contains
information about themselves may do so
by writing Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), Washington, DC
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).
EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
HISTORY:
The FCC last gave full notice of this
system of records, FCC/WCB–1, Lifeline
Program, by publication in the Federal
Register, 82 FR 38686 (Aug. 15, 2017).
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–03927 Filed 2–24–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION
FDIC Advisory Committee of State
Regulators; Notice of Meeting
Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC).
ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice
is hereby given of a meeting of the FDIC
Advisory Committee of State Regulators.
The Advisory Committee will provide
advice and recommendations on a broad
range of policy issues regarding the
regulation of state-chartered financial
institutions throughout the United
States, including its territories. The
meeting is open to the public. Out of an
abundance of caution related to current
and potential coronavirus
developments, the public’s means to
observe this meeting of the Advisory
Committee of State Regulators will be
via a Webcast live on the internet. In
addition, the meeting will be recorded
and subsequently made available on-
SUMMARY:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 36 (Thursday, February 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11526-11529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03927]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[FR ID 17502]
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission or
Agency) is modifying an existing system of records, FCC/WCB-1, Lifeline
Program, subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This action is
necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the
Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records
maintained by the agency. The Lifeline Program (or ``Lifeline'')
provides discounts for one Lifeline Program telephone per household
(voice telephony) and broadband internet access service (BIAS) to
qualifying low-income individuals. Individuals may qualify for Lifeline
through proof of income or participation in another qualifying program.
Since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act), the Lifeline
Program has been administered by the Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) under the direction of the Commission and, by
delegation, of the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB).
This system of records contains information about individuals who
have applied to participate in the Lifeline Program, respondents to
consumer surveys related to the Lifeline program, and enrollment
representatives. The modifications described in this notice will allow
USAC to maintain and administer this system in a manner that promotes
efficiency and minimizes waste, fraud, and abuse.
DATES: Written comments are due on or before March 29, 2021. This
action (including the routine uses) will become effective on March 29,
2021 unless comments are received that require a contrary
determination.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Margaret Drake, Senior Agency Official for
Privacy, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, or to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Drake, (202) 418-1707, or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice serves to update and modify FCC/
WCB-1, Lifeline Program. The Lifeline Program serves low-income
individuals by providing qualifying individuals with discounts on one
Lifeline Program telephone per household and BIAS service. Since the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act), the Lifeline Program has
been administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company
(USAC) under the direction of the Commission and, by delegation, of
WCB.
The substantive changes and modifications to the previously
published version of the FCC/WCB-1 system of records include:
(a) Updating the purpose for maintaining this system of records to
simplify the section for readability, and include using the personally
identifiable information (PII) to develop consumer survey and
enrollment, and to facilitate monitoring of enrollment representatives;
(b) Updating the categories of records maintained in this system of
records to simplify for readability, and include information requested
for consumer survey development and execution, information requested to
facilitate monitoring of enrollment representatives, addresses based on
geographic coordinates (geolocation), internet Protocol (IP) address,
Lifeline subscriber application number, and enrollment representative
unique identifier numbers (Representative ID Number);
(c) Updating the source of records maintained in this system of
records to simplify the section for readability, include respondents to
a consumer survey, and to better define individuals acting as agents
who are now considered enrollment representatives;
(d) Updating language in various routine uses: (1) FCC/USAC Program
Management; (2) Third Party Contractors; (3) Business Process
Outsourcing (BPO); (5) State Agencies and Other Authorized State
Government
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Entities; (6) Social Service Agencies and Other Approved Third Parties;
(8) Tribal Nations; (9) Service Providers; (12) Government-Wide Program
Management and Oversight; (18) Computer Matching Program Disclosure;
and, (20) Contract Services, Grants, or Cooperative Agreements;
(e) Removing routine use ``Income and Program Eligibility Records''
as duplicative of routine uses (5) and (7);
(f) Adding a routine use to permit an individual's Lifeline
participation or qualification status to be shared with a Federal
agency or contractor when a federal program administered by the agency
or its contractor uses qualification for Lifeline as an eligibility
criterion; and
(g) Adding a routine use to facilitate consumer survey development
and execution.
The system of records is also updated to reflect various
administrative changes related to the system managers and system
addresses; update the Policies and Practices for Retention and Disposal
of Records to describe the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA) records schedule for this system; administrative, technical, and
physical safeguards; and updated notification, records access, and
contesting records procedures.
SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER: FCC/WCB-1, Lifeline Program.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
No information in the system is classified.
SYSTEM LOCATION(S): 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.
SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): 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.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
47 U.S.C. 151-154, 201-205, 214, 254, 403. 47 CFR Sections 54.400-
54.423.
PURPOSE(S):
The Lifeline Program provides discounts for one Lifeline telephone
service per household (voice telephony), BIAS service, and the initial
connection charge in Tribal areas to support such service, to
qualifying low-income individuals. Individuals may qualify for Lifeline
through proof of income or proof of participation in another qualifying
program. 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 representative; and consumer surveys.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
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
individuals that respond to a consumer survey developed using
information in this system; and individuals acting as enrollment
representatives and providing information directly or indirectly into
USAC's Lifeline Systems on behalf of an ETC to enroll subscribers,
recertify subscribers, or update subscriber information in the Lifeline
Program.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
The categories of records in the system include first and last name
of the applicant, other household members, 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;
whether someone resides 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; 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.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
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.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
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 the
FCC as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows. In
each of these cases, the FCC will determine whether disclosure of the
records is compatible with the purpose(s) for which the records were
collected:
1. FCC/USAC Program Management--To the FCC and 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. Third Party Contractors--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.
3. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Entity--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.
4. State Agencies and Other Authorized State Government Entities--
To designated State agencies and other authorized governmental
entities, including State public utility
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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.
5. Social Service Agencies and Other Approved Third Parties--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.
6. Federal Agencies--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.
7. Tribal Nations--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.
8. Service Providers--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. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
13. Other Federal Program Eligibility--To disclose an individual's
Lifeline participation or qualification status 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--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,
including but not limited to notifying the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) to investigate income eligibility verification.
15. Adjudication and Litigation--To the Department of Justice
(DOJ), in a proceeding before a court, or other administrative or
adjudicative 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 the 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.
16. Breach Notification--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.
17. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities--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.
18. Computer Matching Program Disclosure--To Federal, State, and
local agencies, and 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).
19. 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,
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
[[Page 11529]]
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.
20. Contract Services, Grants, or Cooperative Agreements--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 accomplish an agency
function related to a system of records. Disclosure requirements are
limited to only those data elements considered relevant to
accomplishing an agency function. Individuals who are provided
information under these routine use conditions are subject to Privacy
Act requirements and disclosure limitations imposed on the Commission.
21. Consumer Survey Development and Execution--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 a consumer
survey 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.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
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.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
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.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
The information in this system is maintained and disposed of in
accordance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
General Records Schedule DAA-0173-2017-0001-0002. Records maintained in
connection with the Lifeline Program will be destroyed 10 years after
the year it was created or when no longer needed for business or audit
purposes, whichever comes later. The FCC and USAC dispose of paper
documents by shredding. Electronic records, files, and data are
destroyed either by physical destruction of the electronic storage
media or by erasure of the data.
ADMINSTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
The electronic records, data, and files are maintained in the FCC
and the USAC computer network databases, which are protected by the
FCC's privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of safety and
security protocols and features that are designed to meet all Federal
privacy standards, including those required by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB), National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST)
and the Federal Information Security Management System (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.
RECORDS ACCESS PROCEDURES:
Individuals wishing to request access to and/or amendment of
records about themselves should follow the Notification Procedure
below.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
Individuals wishing to request an amendment of records about
themselves should follow the Notification Procedure below.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records
contains information about themselves may do so by writing Federal
Communications Commission (FCC), Washington, DC 20554, [email protected]
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).
EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
HISTORY:
The FCC last gave full notice of this system of records, FCC/WCB-1,
Lifeline Program, by publication in the Federal Register, 82 FR 38686
(Aug. 15, 2017).
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-03927 Filed 2-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P