Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program, 17391 [2021-06866]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 62 / Friday, April 2, 2021 / Notices
Section 17.49 requires antenna
structure owners to maintain a record of
observed or otherwise known
extinguishments or improper
functioning of structure lights for two
years and provide the records to the
Commission upon request.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–06860 Filed 4–1–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[FR ID: 19038]
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of a New Matching
Program.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended
(‘‘Privacy Act’’), this document
announces the establishment of a
computer matching program the Federal
Communications Commission (‘‘FCC’’
or ‘‘Commission’’ or ‘‘Agency’’) and the
Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) will conduct with the
Wisconsin Department of Health
Services (DHS), and the Wisconsin
Department of Revenue (DOR), (DHS
and DOR collectively, Agencies). The
purpose of this matching program is to
verify the eligibility of applicants to and
subscribers of the Emergency Broadband
Benefit Program, which is administered
by USAC under the direction of the
FCC, or other federal programs that use
qualification for the FCC’s Lifeline
Program as an eligibility criterion. More
information about this program is
provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section below.
DATES: Written comments are due on or
before May 3, 2021. This computer
matching program will commence on
May 3, 2021, and will conclude 18
months after becoming effective.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Margaret
Drake, FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington,
DC 20554, or to Privacy@fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Margaret Drake at 202–417–1707 or
Privacy@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
(EBBP) was established by Congress in
the Consolidated Appropriations Act of
2021, Public Law 116–260, 134 Stat.
1182. EBBP is a program that will help
low-income Americans obtain
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
23:04 Apr 01, 2021
Jkt 253001
discounted broadband service and onetime co-pay for a connected device
(laptop, desktop computer or tablet).
This program was created specifically to
assist American families’ access to
broadband, which has proven to be
essential for work, school, and
healthcare during the public health
emergency that exists as a result of
COVID–19. A household may qualify for
the EBBP benefit under various criteria,
including an individual qualifying for
the FCC’s Lifeline program.
In a Report and Order adopted on
March 31, 2016 (81 FR 33026, May 24,
2016), the Commission ordered USAC to
create a National Lifeline Eligibility
Verifier (‘‘National Verifier’’), including
the National Lifeline Eligibility Database
(LED), that would match data about
Lifeline applicants and subscribers with
other data sources to verify the
eligibility of an applicant or subscriber.
The Commission found that the
National Verifier would reduce
compliance costs for Lifeline service
providers, improve service for Lifeline
subscribers, and reduce waste, fraud,
and abuse in the program. The
Consolidated Appropriations Act of
2021 directs the FCC to leverage the
National Verifier to verify applicants’
eligibility for EBBP. The purpose of this
matching program is to verify the
eligibility of EBBP applicants and
subscribers by determining whether
they receive Medicaid, Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
or Supplemental Secure Income (SSI)
benefits administered by the Wisconsin
DHS or Wisconsin DOR. Under FCC
rules, consumers receiving these
benefits qualify for Lifeline discounts
and also for EBBP benefits.
Participating Non-Federal Agencies
Wisconsin Department of Health
Services (DHS), and the Wisconsin
Department of Revenue (DOR)
Authority for Conducting the Matching
Program
Consolidated Appropriations Act of
2021, Public Law 116–260, 134 Stat.
1182; 47 CFR part 54.
Purpose(s)
In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization
Order (81 FR 33026, May 24, 2016), the
FCC required USAC to develop and
operate the National Verifier to improve
efficiency and reduce waste, fraud, and
abuse in the Lifeline program. The
stated purpose of the National Verifier
is ‘‘to increase the integrity and improve
the performance of the Lifeline program
for the benefit of a variety of Lifeline
participants, including Lifeline
providers, subscribers, states,
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
17391
community-based organizations, USAC,
and the Commission.’’ 31 FCC Rcd
3962, 4006, para. 126. To help
determine whether Lifeline applicants
and subscribers are eligible for Lifeline
benefits, the Order contemplates that
the USAC-operated LED will
communicate with information systems
and databases operated by other Federal
and State agencies. Id. at 4011–2, paras.
135–7.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act
of 2021 directs the FCC to leverage the
National Verifier to verify applicants’
eligibility for EBBP. The purpose of this
matching program is to verify the
eligibility of EBBP applicants and
subscribers by determining whether
they meet an income verification
standard or receive Medicaid, SNAP, or
SSI benefits administered by the
Wisconsin DHS or the Wisconsin DOR.
Under FCC rules, consumers receiving
these benefits qualify for Lifeline
discounts and also for EBBP benefits.
Categories of Individuals
The categories of individuals whose
information is involved in the matching
program include, but are not limited to,
those individuals who have applied for
EBBP benefits; are currently receiving
benefits; are individuals who enable
another individual in their household to
qualify for EBBP benefits; are minors
whose status qualifies a parent or
guardian for EBBP benefits; or are
individuals who have received EBBP
benefits.
Categories of Records
The categories of records involved in
the matching program include, but are
not limited to first name, last name, and
last four digits of the applicant’s Social
Security Number. The National Verifier
will transfer these data elements to the
Wisconsin DHS and the Wisconsin DOR
which will respond either ‘‘yes’’ or ‘‘no’’
that the individual meets the income
verification standard or is enrolled in an
EBBP-qualifying assistance program:
State of Wisconsin’s SNAP, Medicaid,
or SSI.
System(s) of Records
The USAC records shared as part of
this matching program reside in the
EBBP system of records, FCC/WCB–3,
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program,
which was published in the Federal
Register at 86 FR 11523 (Feb. 25, 2021).
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–06866 Filed 3–31–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
E:\FR\FM\02APN1.SGM
02APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 62 (Friday, April 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 17391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06866]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[FR ID: 19038]
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice of a New Matching Program.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended
(``Privacy Act''), this document announces the establishment of a
computer matching program the Federal Communications Commission
(``FCC'' or ``Commission'' or ``Agency'') and the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC) will conduct with the Wisconsin
Department of Health Services (DHS), and the Wisconsin Department of
Revenue (DOR), (DHS and DOR collectively, Agencies). The purpose of
this matching program is to verify the eligibility of applicants to and
subscribers of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which is
administered by USAC under the direction of the FCC, or other federal
programs that use qualification for the FCC's Lifeline Program as an
eligibility criterion. More information about this program is provided
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
DATES: Written comments are due on or before May 3, 2021. This computer
matching program will commence on May 3, 2021, and will conclude 18
months after becoming effective.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Margaret Drake, FCC, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, or to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Drake at 202-417-1707 or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
(EBBP) was established by Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations
Act of 2021, Public Law 116-260, 134 Stat. 1182. EBBP is a program that
will help low-income Americans obtain discounted broadband service and
one-time co-pay for a connected device (laptop, desktop computer or
tablet). This program was created specifically to assist American
families' access to broadband, which has proven to be essential for
work, school, and healthcare during the public health emergency that
exists as a result of COVID-19. A household may qualify for the EBBP
benefit under various criteria, including an individual qualifying for
the FCC's Lifeline program.
In a Report and Order adopted on March 31, 2016 (81 FR 33026, May
24, 2016), the Commission ordered USAC to create a National Lifeline
Eligibility Verifier (``National Verifier''), including the National
Lifeline Eligibility Database (LED), that would match data about
Lifeline applicants and subscribers with other data sources to verify
the eligibility of an applicant or subscriber. The Commission found
that the National Verifier would reduce compliance costs for Lifeline
service providers, improve service for Lifeline subscribers, and reduce
waste, fraud, and abuse in the program. The Consolidated Appropriations
Act of 2021 directs the FCC to leverage the National Verifier to verify
applicants' eligibility for EBBP. The purpose of this matching program
is to verify the eligibility of EBBP applicants and subscribers by
determining whether they receive Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP), or Supplemental Secure Income (SSI) benefits
administered by the Wisconsin DHS or Wisconsin DOR. Under FCC rules,
consumers receiving these benefits qualify for Lifeline discounts and
also for EBBP benefits.
Participating Non-Federal Agencies
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), and the Wisconsin
Department of Revenue (DOR)
Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Public Law 116-260, 134
Stat. 1182; 47 CFR part 54.
Purpose(s)
In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization Order (81 FR 33026, May 24,
2016), the FCC required USAC to develop and operate the National
Verifier to improve efficiency and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in
the Lifeline program. The stated purpose of the National Verifier is
``to increase the integrity and improve the performance of the Lifeline
program for the benefit of a variety of Lifeline participants,
including Lifeline providers, subscribers, states, community-based
organizations, USAC, and the Commission.'' 31 FCC Rcd 3962, 4006, para.
126. To help determine whether Lifeline applicants and subscribers are
eligible for Lifeline benefits, the Order contemplates that the USAC-
operated LED will communicate with information systems and databases
operated by other Federal and State agencies. Id. at 4011-2, paras.
135-7.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 directs the FCC to
leverage the National Verifier to verify applicants' eligibility for
EBBP. The purpose of this matching program is to verify the eligibility
of EBBP applicants and subscribers by determining whether they meet an
income verification standard or receive Medicaid, SNAP, or SSI benefits
administered by the Wisconsin DHS or the Wisconsin DOR. Under FCC
rules, consumers receiving these benefits qualify for Lifeline
discounts and also for EBBP benefits.
Categories of Individuals
The categories of individuals whose information is involved in the
matching program include, but are not limited to, those individuals who
have applied for EBBP benefits; are currently receiving benefits; are
individuals who enable another individual in their household to qualify
for EBBP benefits; are minors whose status qualifies a parent or
guardian for EBBP benefits; or are individuals who have received EBBP
benefits.
Categories of Records
The categories of records involved in the matching program include,
but are not limited to first name, last name, and last four digits of
the applicant's Social Security Number. The National Verifier will
transfer these data elements to the Wisconsin DHS and the Wisconsin DOR
which will respond either ``yes'' or ``no'' that the individual meets
the income verification standard or is enrolled in an EBBP-qualifying
assistance program: State of Wisconsin's SNAP, Medicaid, or SSI.
System(s) of Records
The USAC records shared as part of this matching program reside in
the EBBP system of records, FCC/WCB-3, Emergency Broadband Benefit
Program, which was published in the Federal Register at 86 FR 11523
(Feb. 25, 2021).
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-06866 Filed 3-31-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
