Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records, 28777-28780 [2024-08378]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 77 / Friday, April 19, 2024 / Notices
at the end of the business day. Access
to these files is restricted to authorized
USAC and its contractors’ staffs.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
Individuals wishing to request access
to and/or amendment of records about
themselves should follow the
Notification Procedures below.
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
Individuals wishing to request an
amendment of records about themselves
should follow the Notification
Procedures below.
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
Individuals wishing to determine
whether this system of records contains
information about themselves may do so
by writing Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, or to privacy@
fcc.gov. Individuals requesting access
must also comply with the FCC’s
Privacy Act regulations regarding
verification of identity to gain access to
the records (47 CFR part 0, subpart E).
EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
HISTORY:
88 FR 19138 (March 30, 2023) and 88
FR 23672 (April 18, 2023) (correction).
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–08376 Filed 4–18–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[FR ID: 214884]
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 voice service per
household and/or broadband internet
access service (BIAS) to qualifying low-
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SUMMARY:
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income individuals. Individuals may
qualify for Lifeline through proof of
income or participation in another
qualifying program. Since the enactment
of 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 started an application online
or 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: This modified system of records
will become effective on April 19, 2024.
Written comments on the routine uses
are due by May 20, 2024. The routine
uses in this action will become effective
on May 20, 2024 unless comments are
received that require a contrary
determination.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Brendan
McTaggart, Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, or to privacy@
fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brendan McTaggart, (202) 418–1738, or
privacy@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice modifies FCC/WCB–1, Lifeline
Program system of records as a result of
necessary changes and updates. The
substantive changes and modifications
to the previously published version of
the FCC/WCB–1 system of records
include:
1. Updating the Authority for
Maintenance of the System, Purposes of
the System, Categories of Individuals,
and Categories of Records sections to
accommodate FCC implementation of
the Safe Connections Act (SCA), that,
among other things, designates the
Lifeline program to provide emergency
communications support to survivors,
as that term is defined in the SCA and
FCC regulations or orders;
2. Updating the Categories of Records
to include identifying numbers assigned
by USAC to applicants and or
subscribers, such as ‘‘Application ID,’’
‘‘Eligibility Check ID,’’ or ‘‘eligibility
ID’’ numbers;
3. Adding one new routine use (listed
by the routine use number provided in
this notice): (2) Application,
Enrollment, and Recertification;
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4. Updating and/or revising language
in the following routine uses (listed by
the routine use number provided in this
notice): (14) Law Enforcement and
Investigation; (15) Litigation and (16)
Adjudication (formerly a single routine
use); and (21) Non-Federal Personnel
(formerly named ‘‘Contract Services,
Grants, or Cooperative Agreements’’).
The system of records is also revised
for clarity and updated to reflect various
administrative changes related to the
system managers and system addresses;
policies and practices for storage,
retrieval, and retention of the
information; 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:
Unclassified.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
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):
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 54.400–54.424; Safe
Connections Act of 2022, Public Law
117–223, 116 Stat. 2280.
PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
The Lifeline Program provides
discounts for one Lifeline voice service
and/or BIAS per household, and the
initial connection charge in certain
Tribal areas to support such service, to
qualifying low-income individuals,
including survivors eligible to receive
emergency communications support.
Individuals may qualify for Lifeline
through proof of income, proof of
participation in another qualifying
program, or proof of the need for
emergency communications support for
survivors, including documentation of
financial hardship as defined in FCC
regulations and orders. The Lifeline
Program system of records is maintained
to determine whether the applicant
meets the eligibility requirements for
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initial enrollment and recertification,
including the limit of one benefit per
household; program administration;
dispute resolution; monitoring of
enrollment representatives; 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 survivors seeking
emergency communications support
and, as required, their alleged abusers;
are individuals that respond to a
consumer survey developed using
information in this system; and are
individuals acting as enrollment
representatives and providing
information directly or indirectly into
USAC’s Lifeline Systems on behalf of an
ETC to enroll subscribers, recertify
subscribers, or update subscriber
information in the Lifeline Program.
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CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
The categories of records in the
system include first and last name of the
applicant, subscriber, other household
members, survivor, alleged abuser,
caregiver, or consumer survey
participant; date of birth; last four digits
of Social Security Number or a full
Tribal identification number; residential
address; descriptive address; address
based on geographic coordinates
(geolocation); internet Protocol (IP)
address; contact information; evidence
of residence on Tribal lands; qualifying
program participation; financial
information; username and password;
account security questions and answers;
Lifeline subscriber identification
number; assigned Representative ID
Number; Lifeline participation status;
amount of benefit received; documents
demonstrating eligibility; documents
showing only one benefit is received per
household; voice recordings; USACassigned identifying numbers, such as
Application ID, Eligibility Check ID, or
eligibility ID numbers; for survivors
seeking emergency communications
support, documentation related to the
submission of a legitimate line
separation request to a
telecommunications provider and
documentation or certification of
financial hardship (such as income selfcertification or documentation related to
receipt of Pell Grants or qualification for
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federal nutrition programs); and
signatures.
For ETC enrollment representatives
who register to access the National
Verifier or National Lifeline
Accountability Database the following
information may be collected: first and
last name, date of birth, the last four
digits of his or her social security
number, email address, residential
address, or other identity proof
documentation.
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. Program Management—To USAC
employees to conduct official duties
associated with the management,
operation, and oversight of the Lifeline
Program, NLAD, National Verifier,
Lifeline Claims System, and
Representative Accountability Database,
as directed by the Commission.
2. Application, Enrollment, and
Recertification—To facilitate the
Lifeline application, enrollment, or
recertification processes, including for
survivors seeking or receiving
communications support, records from
this system may be disclosed to the
individual who originally submitted the
records, to the individual applicant to
whom the records pertain, or to an
authorized representative, entity, or
organization supporting the individual
in the application, enrollment, or
recertification process.
3. Third Party Contractors—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
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and email support operations, and assist
in dispute resolution.
4. 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.
5. State Agencies and Other
Authorized State Government Entities—
To designated State agencies and other
authorized governmental entities,
including State public utility
commissions, State departments of
health and human services or other
State entities that share data with USAC
or the FCC, and their agents, as is
consistent with applicable Federal and
State laws, for purposes of eligibility
verification and recertification;
administering the Lifeline Program on
behalf of ETCs in that State; performing
other management and oversight duties
and responsibilities; enabling the
National Verifier to perform eligibility
verification for individuals applying for
or re-certifying for Lifeline support;
enabling the State to perform eligibility
verification for individuals applying for
or re-certifying for Lifeline support;
providing enrollment and other selected
reports to the State; comparing
information contained in the National
Lifeline Accountability Database
(NLAD) and Lifeline eligibility,
recertification, and related systems to
information contained in state databases
associated with State- administered
Lifeline Programs in order to assess
differences between State and Federal
programs and make adjustments.
6. Social Service Agencies and Other
Approved Third Parties—To social
service agencies and other third parties
that have been approved by USAC for
purposes of assisting individuals in
applying for and recertifying for Lifeline
support.
7. Federal Agencies—To other Federal
agencies for the development of and
operation under data sharing
agreements with USAC or the FCC to
enable the National Verifier to perform
eligibility verification or recertification
for individuals applying for Lifeline
support or another federal program
using Lifeline qualification as an
eligibility criterion.
8. Tribal Nations—To Tribal Nations
to perform eligibility verification or
recertification for individuals applying
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for Lifeline support, to provide
enrollment and other selected reports to
Tribal Nations, and for purposes of
assisting individuals in applying for and
recertifying for Lifeline support.
9. Service Providers—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.
10. FCC Enforcement Actions—When
a record in this system involves an
informal complaint filed alleging a
violation of the Communications Act of
1934, as amended, or FCC regulations or
orders (FCC Rules and Regulations) by
an applicant, licensee, certified or
regulated entity, or an unlicensed
person or entity, the complaint may be
provided to the alleged violator for a
response. Where a complainant in filing
his or her complaint explicitly requests
confidentiality of his or her name from
public disclosure, the Commission will
endeavor to protect such information
from public disclosure. Complaints that
contain requests for confidentiality may
be dismissed if the Commission
determines that the request impedes the
Commission’s ability to investigate and/
or resolve the complaint.
11. Congressional Inquiries—To
provide information to a Congressional
office from the record of an individual
in response to an inquiry from that
Congressional office made at the written
request of that individual.
12. 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
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qualification for Lifeline as an eligibility
criterion.
14. Law Enforcement and
Investigation—When the FCC
investigates any violation or potential
violation of a civil or criminal law,
regulation, policy, executed consent
decree, order, or any other type of
compulsory obligation and determines
that a record in this system, either alone
or in conjunction with other
information, indicates a violation or
potential violation of law, regulation,
policy, consent decree, order, or other
compulsory obligation, the FCC may
disclose pertinent information as it
deems necessary to the target of an
investigation, as well as with the
appropriate Federal (including the
Internal Revenue Service to investigate
income eligibility verification), State,
local, Tribal, international, or
multinational agencies, or a component
of such an agency, responsible for
investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or
implementing a statute, rule, regulation,
order, or other compulsory obligation.
15. Litigation—To disclose records to
DOJ when: (a) the FCC or any
component thereof; (b) any employee of
the FCC in his or her official capacity;
(c) any employee of the FCC in his or
her individual capacity where the DOJ
or the FCC has agreed to represent the
employee; or (d) the United States
Government is a party to litigation or
has an interest in such litigation, and by
careful review, the FCC determines that
the records are both relevant and
necessary to the litigation, and the use
of such records by the DOJ is for a
purpose that is compatible with the
purpose for which the FCC collected the
records.
16. Adjudication—To disclose records
in a proceeding before a court or
adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or
any component thereof; or (b) any
employee of the FCC in his or her
official capacity; or (c) any employee of
the FCC in his or her individual
capacity; or (d) the United States
Government, is a party to litigation or
has an interest in such litigation, and by
careful review, the FCC determines that
the records are both relevant and
necessary to the litigation, and that the
use of such records is for a purpose that
is compatible with the purpose for
which the agency collected the records.
17. 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,
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28779
the Commission (including its
information systems, programs, and
operations), the Federal Government, or
national security; and (c) the disclosure
made to such agencies, entities, and
persons is reasonably necessary to assist
in connection with the Commission’s
efforts to respond to the suspected or
confirmed breach or to prevent,
minimize, or remedy such harm.
18. Assistance to Federal Agencies
and Entities Related to Breaches—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.
19. 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).
20. 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 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.
21. Non-Federal Personnel—To
disclose information to non-Federal
personnel, including FCC or USAC
contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity
verification services), grantees, or
volunteers who have been engaged to
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assist the FCC or USAC in the
performance of a contract service, grant,
cooperative agreement, or other activity
related to this system of records that has
not been otherwise identified in this
Notice and who need to have access to
the records in order to perform their
activity.
22. 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 consumer surveys as described
in this system of records. Individuals
who are provided information under
these routine use conditions are subject
to Privacy Act requirements and
disclosure limitations imposed on the
Commission.
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.
ADMINISTRATIVE, 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 OMB, the
National Institute of Standard and
Technology (NIST) and the Federal
Information Security Modernization Act
of 2014 (FISMA). In addition, access to
the electronic files is restricted to
authorized USAC and contractors’
supervisors and staff and to the FCC’s IT
supervisors and staff and to the IT
contractors who maintain these
computer databases. Other FCC
employees and contractors may be
granted access only on a ‘‘need-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.
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 PROCEDURES:
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF
RECORDS:
Individuals wishing to determine
whether this system of records contains
information about themselves may do so
by writing to privacy@fcc.gov.
Individuals requesting access must also
comply with the FCC’s Privacy Act
regulations regarding verification of
identity to gain access to the records (47
CFR part 0, subpart E).
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.
EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
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None.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND
DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
HISTORY:
The information in this system is
maintained and disposed of in
accordance with the National Archives
and Records Administration (NARA)
Records Schedule DAA–0173–2017–
0001–0002 (Universal Service).
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86 FR 11526 (Feb. 25, 2021).
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–08378 Filed 4–18–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[FR ID: 214885]
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 a system of
records, FCC/WCB–3, Affordable
Connectivity 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
Affordable Connectivity Program
(‘‘ACP’’), the successor to the
Commission’s Emergency Broadband
Benefit Program, provides discounts for
broadband internet access service
(‘‘BIAS’’) to qualifying households. A
household may qualify for the ACP if an
individual in the household has applied
for and has been approved to receive
benefits under the free and reduced
price lunch program, receives assistance
through the special supplemental
nutritional program for women, infants,
and children (‘‘WIC’’), receives a Pell
Grant, qualifies for the Lifeline program,
meets certain income requirements, or
qualifies for a low-income program
offered by internet service providers.
The ACP is 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 individual
ACP applicants and participants,
providers’ claims and certifying officers,
and providers’ enrollment
representatives.
DATES: This modified system of records
will become effective on April 19, 2024.
Written comments on the routine uses
are due by May 20, 2024. The routine
uses in this action will become effective
on May 20, 2024 unless comments are
received that require a contrary
determination.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Brendan
McTaggart, Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, or to privacy@
fcc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brendan McTaggart, (202) 418–1738, or
privacy@fcc.gov.
SUMMARY:
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28777-28780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08378]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[FR ID: 214884]
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 voice service per household
and/or 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
enactment of 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 started an application online or 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: This modified system of records will become effective on April
19, 2024. Written comments on the routine uses are due by May 20, 2024.
The routine uses in this action will become effective on May 20, 2024
unless comments are received that require a contrary determination.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Brendan McTaggart, Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554, or to
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brendan McTaggart, (202) 418-1738, or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice modifies FCC/WCB-1, Lifeline
Program system of records as a result of necessary changes and updates.
The substantive changes and modifications to the previously published
version of the FCC/WCB-1 system of records include:
1. Updating the Authority for Maintenance of the System, Purposes
of the System, Categories of Individuals, and Categories of Records
sections to accommodate FCC implementation of the Safe Connections Act
(SCA), that, among other things, designates the Lifeline program to
provide emergency communications support to survivors, as that term is
defined in the SCA and FCC regulations or orders;
2. Updating the Categories of Records to include identifying
numbers assigned by USAC to applicants and or subscribers, such as
``Application ID,'' ``Eligibility Check ID,'' or ``eligibility ID''
numbers;
3. Adding one new routine use (listed by the routine use number
provided in this notice): (2) Application, Enrollment, and
Recertification;
4. Updating and/or revising language in the following routine uses
(listed by the routine use number provided in this notice): (14) Law
Enforcement and Investigation; (15) Litigation and (16) Adjudication
(formerly a single routine use); and (21) Non-Federal Personnel
(formerly named ``Contract Services, Grants, or Cooperative
Agreements'').
The system of records is also revised for clarity and updated to
reflect various administrative changes related to the system managers
and system addresses; policies and practices for storage, retrieval,
and retention of the information; 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:
Unclassified.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
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):
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 54.400-54.424;
Safe Connections Act of 2022, Public Law 117-223, 116 Stat. 2280.
PURPOSE(S) OF THE SYSTEM:
The Lifeline Program provides discounts for one Lifeline voice
service and/or BIAS per household, and the initial connection charge in
certain Tribal areas to support such service, to qualifying low-income
individuals, including survivors eligible to receive emergency
communications support. Individuals may qualify for Lifeline through
proof of income, proof of participation in another qualifying program,
or proof of the need for emergency communications support for
survivors, including documentation of financial hardship as defined in
FCC regulations and orders. The Lifeline Program system of records is
maintained to determine whether the applicant meets the eligibility
requirements for
[[Page 28778]]
initial enrollment and recertification, including the limit of one
benefit per household; program administration; dispute resolution;
monitoring of enrollment representatives; 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
survivors seeking emergency communications support and, as required,
their alleged abusers; are individuals that respond to a consumer
survey developed using information in this system; and are individuals
acting as enrollment representatives and providing information directly
or indirectly into USAC's Lifeline Systems on behalf of an 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, subscriber, other household members, survivor,
alleged abuser, caregiver, or consumer survey participant; date of
birth; last four digits of Social Security Number or a full Tribal
identification number; residential address; descriptive address;
address based on geographic coordinates (geolocation); internet
Protocol (IP) address; contact information; evidence of residence on
Tribal lands; qualifying program participation; financial information;
username and password; account security questions and answers; Lifeline
subscriber identification number; assigned Representative ID Number;
Lifeline participation status; amount of benefit received; documents
demonstrating eligibility; documents showing only one benefit is
received per household; voice recordings; USAC-assigned identifying
numbers, such as Application ID, Eligibility Check ID, or eligibility
ID numbers; for survivors seeking emergency communications support,
documentation related to the submission of a legitimate line separation
request to a telecommunications provider and documentation or
certification of financial hardship (such as income self-certification
or documentation related to receipt of Pell Grants or qualification for
federal nutrition programs); and signatures.
For ETC enrollment representatives who register to access the
National Verifier or National Lifeline Accountability Database the
following information may be collected: first and last name, date of
birth, the last four digits of his or her social security number, email
address, residential address, or other identity proof documentation.
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. Program Management--To USAC employees to conduct official duties
associated with the management, operation, and oversight of the
Lifeline Program, NLAD, National Verifier, Lifeline Claims System, and
Representative Accountability Database, as directed by the Commission.
2. Application, Enrollment, and Recertification--To facilitate the
Lifeline application, enrollment, or recertification processes,
including for survivors seeking or receiving communications support,
records from this system may be disclosed to the individual who
originally submitted the records, to the individual applicant to whom
the records pertain, or to an authorized representative, entity, or
organization supporting the individual in the application, enrollment,
or recertification process.
3. Third Party Contractors--To an employee of a third-party
contractor, or subcontractor of the third- party contractor, engaged by
USAC or an ETC to, among other things, develop the Lifeline Eligibility
Database, conduct the eligibility verification process, recertification
process, run call center and email support operations, and assist in
dispute resolution.
4. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Entity--To an employee of the
BPO engaged by USAC or an employee of a third-party contractor engaged
by the BPO to perform and review eligibility evaluations where the
National Verifier conducts such processes for purposes of conducting
the eligibility verification process or recertification process,
performing manual eligibility verification (when needed), run call
center and email support operations, and to assist in dispute
resolution.
5. State Agencies and Other Authorized State Government Entities--
To designated State agencies and other authorized governmental
entities, including State public utility commissions, State departments
of health and human services or other State entities that share data
with USAC or the FCC, and their agents, as is consistent with
applicable Federal and State laws, for purposes of eligibility
verification and recertification; administering the Lifeline Program on
behalf of ETCs in that State; performing other management and oversight
duties and responsibilities; enabling the National Verifier to perform
eligibility verification for individuals applying for or re-certifying
for Lifeline support; enabling the State to perform eligibility
verification for individuals applying for or re-certifying for Lifeline
support; providing enrollment and other selected reports to the State;
comparing information contained in the National Lifeline Accountability
Database (NLAD) and Lifeline eligibility, recertification, and related
systems to information contained in state databases associated with
State- administered Lifeline Programs in order to assess differences
between State and Federal programs and make adjustments.
6. Social Service Agencies and Other Approved Third Parties--To
social service agencies and other third parties that have been approved
by USAC for purposes of assisting individuals in applying for and
recertifying for Lifeline support.
7. Federal Agencies--To other Federal agencies for the development
of and operation under data sharing agreements with USAC or the FCC to
enable the National Verifier to perform eligibility verification or
recertification for individuals applying for Lifeline support or
another federal program using Lifeline qualification as an eligibility
criterion.
8. Tribal Nations--To Tribal Nations to perform eligibility
verification or recertification for individuals applying
[[Page 28779]]
for Lifeline support, to provide enrollment and other selected reports
to Tribal Nations, and for purposes of assisting individuals in
applying for and recertifying for Lifeline support.
9. Service Providers--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.
10. FCC Enforcement Actions--When a record in this system involves
an informal complaint filed alleging a violation of the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended, or FCC regulations or orders (FCC Rules and
Regulations) by an applicant, licensee, certified or regulated entity,
or an unlicensed person or entity, the complaint may be provided to the
alleged violator for a response. Where a complainant in filing his or
her complaint explicitly requests confidentiality of his or her name
from public disclosure, the Commission will endeavor to protect such
information from public disclosure. Complaints that contain requests
for confidentiality may be dismissed if the Commission determines that
the request impedes the Commission's ability to investigate and/or
resolve the complaint.
11. Congressional Inquiries--To provide information to a
Congressional office from the record of an individual in response to an
inquiry from that Congressional office made at the written request of
that individual.
12. 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--When the FCC investigates
any violation or potential violation of a civil or criminal law,
regulation, policy, executed consent decree, order, or any other type
of compulsory obligation and determines that a record in this system,
either alone or in conjunction with other information, indicates a
violation or potential violation of law, regulation, policy, consent
decree, order, or other compulsory obligation, the FCC may disclose
pertinent information as it deems necessary to the target of an
investigation, as well as with the appropriate Federal (including the
Internal Revenue Service to investigate income eligibility
verification), State, local, Tribal, international, or multinational
agencies, or a component of such an agency, responsible for
investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing a statute, rule,
regulation, order, or other compulsory obligation.
15. Litigation--To disclose records to DOJ when: (a) the FCC or any
component thereof; (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official
capacity; (c) any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity
where the DOJ or the FCC has agreed to represent the employee; or (d)
the United States Government is a party to litigation or has an
interest in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines
that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and
the use of such records by the DOJ is for a purpose that is compatible
with the purpose for which the FCC collected the records.
16. Adjudication--To disclose records in a proceeding before a
court or adjudicative body, when: (a) the FCC or any component thereof;
or (b) any employee of the FCC in his or her official capacity; or (c)
any employee of the FCC in his or her individual capacity; or (d) the
United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest
in such litigation, and by careful review, the FCC determines that the
records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation, and that the
use of such records is for a purpose that is compatible with the
purpose for which the agency collected the records.
17. 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.
18. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to
Breaches--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.
19. 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).
20. 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 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.
21. Non-Federal Personnel--To disclose information to non-Federal
personnel, including FCC or USAC contractors, other vendors (e.g.,
identity verification services), grantees, or volunteers who have been
engaged to
[[Page 28780]]
assist the FCC or USAC in the performance of a contract service, grant,
cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of
records that has not been otherwise identified in this Notice and who
need to have access to the records in order to perform their activity.
22. 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 consumer
surveys as described in this system of records. Individuals who are
provided information under these routine use conditions are subject to
Privacy Act requirements and disclosure limitations imposed on the
Commission.
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)
Records Schedule DAA-0173-2017-0001-0002 (Universal Service).
ADMINISTRATIVE, 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 OMB, the National
Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Information
Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA). In addition, access to the
electronic files is restricted to authorized USAC and contractors'
supervisors and staff and to the FCC's IT supervisors and staff and to
the IT contractors who maintain these computer databases. Other FCC
employees and contractors may be granted access only on a ``need-to-
know'' basis. In addition, data in the network servers for both USAC
and its contractors will be routinely backed-up. The servers will be
stored in secured environments to protect the data.
The paper documents and files are maintained in file cabinets in
USAC and the contractors' office suites. The file cabinets are locked
when not in use and at the end of the business day. Access to these
files is restricted to authorized USAC and its contractors' staffs.
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 PROCEDURES:
Individuals wishing to determine whether this system of records
contains information about themselves may do so by writing to
[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 PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
HISTORY:
86 FR 11526 (Feb. 25, 2021).
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-08378 Filed 4-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P