Privacy Act System of Records

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC, Commission, or Agency) proposes to modify an existing system of records, FCC/CGB-3, National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP), 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 Commission uses the information, including personally identifiable information (PII), that is submitted by the certified equipment distribution program in each state, as required by the NDBEDP, to maintain each state's certification to participate in the NDBEDP to support the distribution of specialized customer premises equipment (CPE) and the provision of associated services. State equipment distribution programs, other public programs, and private entities may apply to the Commission for certification for the state to participate in the NDBEDP and receive reimbursement for its activities. This modification updates the Purposes of the System, Categories of Individuals Covered by the System, and Categories of Records Covered by the System, adds two new routine uses, and updates and revises language in one existing routine use.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 200 (Monday, October 19, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 200 (Monday, October 19, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66141-66144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21352]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[FR ID: 372592]


Privacy Act System of Records

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC, Commission, or 
Agency) proposes to modify an existing system of records, FCC/CGB-3, 
National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP), 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 Commission uses the information, including personally 
identifiable information (PII), that is submitted by the certified 
equipment distribution program in each state, as required by the 
NDBEDP, to maintain each state's certification to participate in the 
NDBEDP to support the distribution of specialized customer premises 
equipment (CPE) and the provision of associated services. State 
equipment distribution programs, other public programs, and private 
entities may apply to the Commission for certification for the state to 
participate in the NDBEDP and receive reimbursement for its activities. 
This modification updates the Purposes of the System, Categories of 
Individuals Covered by the System, and Categories of Records Covered by 
the System, adds two new routine uses, and updates and revises language 
in one existing routine use.

DATES: This modified system of records will become effective on October 
19, 2026. Written comments on the routine uses are due by November 18, 
2026. The new or revised routine uses in this action will become 
effective on November 18, 2026 unless comments are received that 
require a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Shana Yates, FCC, 45 L Street, NE, 
Washington, DC 20554, care of Office of General Counsel, Privacy Team; 
or to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ceceef5eafdffe5dcfaffffb2fbf3ea"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cbbbb9a2bdaaa8b28bada8a8e5aca4bd">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FCC Office of General Counsel, Privacy 
Team, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#94e4e6fde2f5f7edd4f2f7f7baf3fbe2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f383819a8592908ab3959090dd949c85">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice serves to modify FCC/CGB-3 to 
make various necessary changes and updates. The substantive changes and 
modifications to the previously published version of the FCC/CGB-3 
system of records include:
    1. Modifying the language in the Purposes of the System, Categories 
of Individuals Covered by the System, and Categories of Records in the 
System to reflect the collection and maintenance of information 
necessary to identify any waste, fraud, or abuse in the program and to 
identify prior misconduct by program participants for purposes of a 
suspension and debarment action;
    2. Modifying the Categories of Records to reflect the system 
includes suspension and debarment history and current status of 
individuals who participate in the NDBEDP;
    3. Adding two new routine uses (listed by the routine use number 
provided in this notice): (12) Prevention of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse 
Disclosure; and (13) Suspension and Debarment Disclosure; and
    4. Updating and revising language in the following routine use 
(listed by the routine use number provided in this notice): (4) Law 
Enforcement and Investigation.

[[Page 66142]]

SYSTEM NAME AND NUMBER:
    FCC/CGB-3, National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program 
(NDBEDP).

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    Unclassified.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB), FCC, 45 L Street 
NE, DC 20554.

SYSTEM MANAGER:
    CGB, FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    47 U.S.C. 154, 201, 218, 222, 225, 226, 228, 254(k), and 620; 
Telecommunications Act of 1996, Public Law 014-104, 110 Stat. 56; 
Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 
2010, as amended, Public Law 111-265, 124 Stat 2795.

PURPOSES OF THE SYSTEM:
    This system collects records submitted by the certified equipment 
distribution program in each state, as required by the NDBEDP, to 
maintain each state's certification to participate in this program. 
Collecting and maintaining the required types of information allows 
staff access to documents necessary for key activities discussed in 
this SORN, including maintaining information regarding certified 
program participants; analyzing effectiveness and efficiency of this 
and related FCC programs; informing future rule and policy-making 
activity; identifying any waste, fraud, and abuse in the program; 
identifying prior misconduct of program participants for purposes of a 
suspension or debarment action; and improving staff efficiency. Records 
in this system are available for public inspection, e.g., in response 
to requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), after 
redaction of information that could identify a complainant or 
correspondent, such as the complainant's name, address, telephone 
number, fax number, and/or email address.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    1. Individuals who request or receive the NDBEDP equipment;
    2. Individuals who attest to the disability of the individual 
receiving the NDBEDP equipment and/or matters related to the 
eligibility requirements, qualifications, and regulations, etc., for 
those seeking to participate in the NDBEDP;
    3. Individuals who may file complaints, and parties named in or 
involved with the complaint, including, but not limited to, both formal 
and informal complaints, and inquiries on behalf of themselves or 
NDBEDP participants and matters related to NDBEDP rules and 
regulations;
    4. Individuals, including points of contact for and those who 
certify on behalf of entities, that participate in the NDBEDP; and
    5. Certain non-Federal personnel performing services or activities 
related to this system of records, including, but not limited to, 
representatives of equipment distribution programs.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    1. The name and contact information, including street address, 
email address, and phone number for the individuals requesting or 
receiving the NDBEDP equipment;
    2. The name and contact information, including street and email 
addresses, phone number(s), and fax number(s) for the individuals 
attesting to the disability of the individual who is deaf-blind;
    3. Other miscellaneous PII related to the individuals who 
participate in this program, e.g., response data for equipment 
requests, users' complaints, evaluation of the users' needs, user 
training data, outreach activities, equipment request denial data, and 
medical attestations or records regarding disability qualifications and 
eligibility requirements;
    4. The name and contact information, including street and email 
addresses, phone number(s), and fax number(s) for certain non-Federal 
personnel performing services or activities related to this system of 
records, including, but not limited to, representatives of equipment 
distribution programs;
    5. Suspension and debarment history and current status, as well as 
history of misconduct of individuals (including points of contact for 
and those who certify on behalf of entities) who participate in the 
NDBEDP;
    6. The name and contact information, including street and email 
addresses, phone number(s), and fax number(s) for individuals who make 
or have made formal and informal complaints and inquiries (including 
related supporting information), and parties named in or involved with 
the complaint or inquiry, in any format (including but not limited to 
paper, telephone, TTY, recording, Braille, and electronic submissions, 
such as email, internet, etc.) on behalf of themselves or NDBEDP 
participants; and
    7. Commission correspondence, e.g., letters and related 
communications regarding formal and informal complaints and inquiries 
(which may include PII and related information) that pertain to the 
NDBEDP programs, NDBEDP participants, involved parties, and the 
certification and participation of each entity approved by the 
Commission to participate in the NDBEDP.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Information in this system is provided by individuals who request 
or receive the NDBEDP equipment; individuals, groups, and other 
entities who attest to the disability of the individual requesting or 
receiving the equipment; individuals, including points of contact for 
and those who certify on behalf of entities, that participate in 
NDBEDP; and other individuals, groups, and other entities who have a 
connection to the NDBEDP and its participants, e.g., those filing or 
involved with formal and informal complaints or inquiries on behalf of 
the participants or otherwise performing services or activities related 
to this system of records.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES:
    Information about individuals in this system of records may 
routinely be disclosed under the following conditions:
    1. Formal or Informal Complaints--When a record in this system 
involves a formal or informal complaint, and/or inquiry filed against 
an NDBEDP certified program and related entities, the complaint or 
inquiry may be forwarded to the subject certified program for that 
state, the appropriate State and Federal medical boards, certifying 
associations, and related groups, and personal physicians (who may 
determine whether an individual meets the eligibility criteria for 
participation in the NDBEDP) for a response.
    2. Medical Records--A medical attestation or record (including but 
not limited to third-party attestations, certifications, and 
declarations of disability) from this system may be disclosed to 
appropriate entities, including, but not limited to, the subject 
certified program for that state, the appropriate State and Federal 
medical boards, certifying associations, and related groups, and 
personal physicians for the purposes of determining whether an 
individual meets the eligibility criteria of being deaf-blind required 
to participate in the NDBEDP.
    3. Income Eligibility Records--A record from this system may be 
disclosed to appropriate entities,

[[Page 66143]]

including but not limited to the subject certified program for that 
state, as well as the appropriate State and Federal certifying boards 
and authorities, for the purposes of determining whether an individual 
meets the income eligibility criteria required to participate in the 
NDBEDP.
    4. 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, 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.
    5. Litigation--Records may be disclosed to the Department of 
Justice (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.
    6. Adjudication--Records may be disclosed 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.
    7. Congressional Inquiries--Information may be provided to a 
Congressional office in response to an inquiry from that Congressional 
office made at the written request of the individual to whom the 
information pertains.
    8. Government-wide Program Management and Oversight--Records may be 
disclosed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to obtain that 
department's advice regarding disclosure obligations under the Freedom 
of Information Act (FOIA); or to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) to obtain that office's advice regarding obligations under the 
Privacy Act.
    9. Breach Notification--Records may be disclosed to appropriate 
agencies, entities, and persons when: (a) the Commission suspects or 
has confirmed that there has been a breach of PII maintained in the 
system of records; (b) the Commission has determined that as a result 
of the suspected or confirmed breach there is a risk of harm to 
individuals, the Commission (including its information system, 
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.
    10. Assistance to Federal Agencies and Entities Related to 
Breaches--Records may be disclosed to another Federal agency or Federal 
entity, 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.
    11. Non-Federal Personnel--Records may be disclosed to non-Federal 
personnel, including contractors, other vendors (e.g., identity 
verification services), grantees, and volunteers who have been engaged 
to assist the FCC in the performance of a contract, service, grant, 
cooperative agreement, or other activity related to this system of 
records and who need to have access to the records in order to perform 
their activity.
    12. Prevention of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Disclosure--Records may 
be disclosed 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 
has a contact, service agreement, cooperative agreement, or computer 
matching agreements 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 provides information under this routine use.
    13. Suspension and Debarment Disclosure--The FCC may disclose 
information from this system to other Federal agencies considering 
suspension or debarment action if the information is relevant to the 
suspension and debarment action.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF RECORDS:
    This electronic system of records resides on the FCC's network or 
on an FCC vendor's network.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF RECORDS:
    Records in this system of records can be retrieved by any category 
field, e.g., the individual's contact information, including the 
individual's name(s), street address, email address(es), landline phone 
and cell phone number(s), complainant(s), and description fields.

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-0173-2017-0002.

ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL SAFEGUARDS:
    The electronic records, files, and data are stored within FCC or a 
vendor's accreditation boundaries and maintained in a database housed 
in the FCC's or vendor's computer network databases. Access to the 
electronic files is restricted to authorized employees and contractors; 
and to IT staff, contractors, and vendors who maintain the IT networks 
and services. Other employees and contractors may be granted access on 
a need-to-know basis.

[[Page 66144]]

The electronic files and records are protected by the FCC and third-
party privacy safeguards, a comprehensive and dynamic set of IT safety 
and security protocols and features that are designed to meet all 
Federal privacy standards, including those required by the Federal 
Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA), OMB, and the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

RECORD 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 access to and/or 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 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b1b19021d0a08122b0d0808450c041d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1666647f6077756f5670757538717960">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Individuals requesting access must also comply with 
the FCC's Privacy Act regulations regarding verification of identity to 
gain access to records as required under 47 CFR Part 0, subpart E.

EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
    None.

HISTORY:
    88 FR 60451 (Sept. 1, 2023).

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-21352 Filed 10-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P


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