Notice2025-03052
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
Primary source
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Published
February 25, 2025
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended ("Privacy Act"), this document announces a new computer matching program the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC" or "Commission" or "Agency") and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) will conduct with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of this matching program is to verify the eligibility of applicants to and subscribers of Lifeline, and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), both of which are administered by USAC under the direction of the FCC. More information about these programs is provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 36 (Tuesday, February 25, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 36 (Tuesday, February 25, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10636-10637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03052]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[FR ID: 281269]
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice of a new matching program.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended
(``Privacy Act''), this document announces a new computer matching
program the Federal Communications Commission (``FCC'' or
``Commission'' or ``Agency'') and the Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) will conduct with the North Carolina Department of
Health and Human Services. The purpose of this matching program is to
verify the eligibility of applicants to and subscribers of Lifeline,
and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), both of which are
administered by USAC under the direction of the FCC. More information
about these programs is provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section below.
DATES: Written comments are due on or before March 27, 2025. This
computer matching program will commence on March 27, 2025, and will
conclude 18 months after the effective date.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Elliot S. Tarloff, FCC, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554, or to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1f4f6d76697e7c665f797c7c31787069"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3e6e4c57485f5d477e585d5d10595148">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elliot S. Tarloff at 202-418-0886 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2e7e5c47584f4d576e484d4d00494158"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5404263d2235372d143237377a333b22">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Lifeline program provides support for
discounted broadband and voice services to low-income consumers.
Lifeline is administered by the Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC) under FCC direction. Consumers qualify for Lifeline
through proof of income or participation in a qualifying program, such
as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP),
Federal Public Housing Assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI),
Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, or various Tribal-specific
federal assistance programs.
In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260,
134 Stat. 1182, 2129-36 (2020), Congress created the Emergency
Broadband Benefit Program, and directed use of the National Verifier to
determine eligibility based on various criteria, including the
qualifications for Lifeline (Medicaid, SNAP, etc.). EBBP provided $3.2
billion in monthly consumer discounts for broadband service and one-
time provider reimbursement for a connected device (laptop, desktop
computer or tablet). In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,
Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429, 1238-44 (2021) (codified at 47 U.S.C.
1751-52), Congress modified and extended EBBP, provided an additional
$14.2 billion, and renamed it the Affordable Connectivity Program
(ACP). A household may qualify for the ACP 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) (2016 Lifeline Modernization Order), 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
ACP. The purpose of this matching program is to verify the eligibility
of Lifeline and ACP applicants and subscribers by determining whether
they receive SNAP benefits administered by the North Carolina
Department of Health and Human Services.
Participating Agencies
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (source
agency); Federal Communications Commission (recipient agency) and
Universal Service Administrative Company.
Authority for Conducting the Matching Program
The authority to conduct the matching program for the FCC's ACP is
47 U.S.C. 1752(a)-(b). The authority to conduct the matching program
for the FCC's Lifeline program is 47 U.S.C. 254(a)-(c), (j).
Purpose(s)
The purpose of this new matching agreement is to verify the
eligibility of applicants and subscribers to Lifeline, as well as to
ACP and other Federal programs that use qualification for Lifeline as
an eligibility criterion. This new agreement will permit eligibility
verification for the Lifeline program and ACP by checking an
applicant's/subscriber's participation in SNAP in North Carolina. Under
FCC rules, consumers receiving these benefits qualify for Lifeline
discounts and also for ACP 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 Lifeline and/or ACP benefits; are currently receiving
Lifeline and/or ACP benefits; are individuals who enable another
individual in their household to qualify for Lifeline and/or ACP
benefits; are minors whose status qualifies a parent or guardian for
Lifeline and/or ACP benefits; or are individuals who
[[Page 10637]]
have received Lifeline and/or ACP benefits.
Categories of Records
The categories of records involved in the matching program include
the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security Number, date of
birth, and first and last name. The National Verifier will transfer
these data elements to the North Carolina Department of Health and
Human Services which will respond either ``yes'' or ``no'' that the
individual is enrolled in a qualifying assistance program: SNAP
administered by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human
Services.
System(s) of Records
The records shared as part of this matching program reside in the
Lifeline system of records, FCC/WCB-1, Lifeline, which was published in
the Federal Register at 89 FR 28777 (Apr. 19, 2024).
The records shared as part of this matching program reside in the
ACP system of records, FCC/WCB-3, Affordable Connectivity Program,
which was published in the Federal Register at 89 FR 28780 (Apr. 19,
2024).
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-03052 Filed 2-24-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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