Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 29, 2023 / Notices 59523 

received. Specifically, EPA is 

announcing the availability of a 

guidance document that describes 

efficacy testing for antimicrobial 

products to support claims for use on 

soft surface textiles in clinical and 

institutional (non-residential) settings 

and how to prepare an application for 

registration, a quantitative method for 

evaluating the efficacy of antimicrobial 

products on soft surface textiles against 

viruses, and a quantitative method for 

evaluating the efficacy of antimicrobial 

products on soft surface textiles against 

bacteria. The guidance does not address 

residential use sites, clothing, frequently 

laundered items, untreated wood, 

concrete and other hard porous 

materials, carpet or rugs, or the backing 

material/stuffing under the soft surface 

textile (e.g., beyond what can be visibly 

observed). 

DATES: This guidance is effective on 

August 29, 2023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Marc Carpenter, Microbiology 

Laboratory Branch (7503M), Biological 

and Economic Analysis Division, Office 

of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 

Protection Agency, Environmental 

Science Center, 701 Mapes Road, Ft. 

Meade, MD 20755–5350; telephone 

number: (410) 305–2927; email address: 

carpenter.marc@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. General Information 

A. Does this action apply to me? 

This action is directed to the public 

in general; although this action may be 

of particular interest to those persons 

who are or may be required to conduct 

testing of chemical substances under the 

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 

Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Since other 

entities may also be interested, the 

Agency has not attempted to describe all 

the specific entities that may be affected 

by this action. If you have any questions 

regarding the applicability of this action 

to a particular entity, consult the person 

listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT. 

B. How can I get copies of this document 

and other related information? 

A copy of the documents are available 

in the docket under docket 

identification (ID) number EPA–HQ– 

OPP–2022–0337 at https://

www.regulations.gov. 

II. Background 

EPA received requests to develop test 

methods, guidance, and an associated 

registration process for antimicrobial 

products intended to treat bacterial and 

viral public health pathogens for use on 

soft surface textiles in non-residential 

settings. There is significant interest 

from stakeholders and the public in the 

availability of antimicrobial products 

with these public health claims, 

particularly in institutional, clinical, 

and health-care settings. 

EPA announced the availability and 

sought public comments on an interim 

guidance document and test methods 

(87 FR 78105, December 21, 2022 (FRL– 

10497–01–OCSPP)). EPA received 

approximately 160 public comments, 

including comments regarding claim 

nomenclature, clarifications to the 

methods and revisions to the guidance. 

After considering the public comments, 

EPA is releasing revised test methods 

and guidance document, as well as a 

response to comments document. 

The final guidance document and test 

methods describe efficacy testing for 

antimicrobial products to support 

claims for use on soft surface textiles in 

clinical and institutional (nonresidential) settings and how to prepare 

an application for registration, a 

quantitative method for evaluating the 

efficacy of antimicrobial products on 

soft surface textiles against viruses, and 

a quantitative method for evaluating the 

efficacy of antimicrobial products on 

soft surface textiles against bacteria. 

This guidance does not address 

residential use sites, clothing, frequently 

laundered items, untreated wood, 

concrete and other hard porous 

materials, carpet or rugs, or the backing 

material/stuffing under the soft surface 

textile (e.g., beyond what can be visibly 

observed). 

III. Do guidance documents contain 

binding requirements? 

As guidance, these documents are not 

binding on the Agency or any outside 

parties, and the Agency may depart 

from it where circumstances warrant 

and without prior notice. While EPA 

has made every effort to ensure the 

accuracy of the discussion in the 

guidance, the obligations of EPA and the 

regulated community are determined by 

statutes, regulations, or other legally 

binding documents. In the event of a 

conflict between the discussion in the 

guidance documents and any statute, 

regulation, or other legally binding 

document, the guidance documents will 

not be controlling. 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq. 

Dated: August 23, 2023. 

Michal Freedhoff, 

Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical 

Safety and Pollution Prevention. 

[FR Doc. 2023–18549 Filed 8–28–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

[FR ID: 167038] 

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 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 Department of Health 

and Human Services, Centers for 

Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

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 September 28, 2023. This 

computer matching program will 

commence on September 28, 2023, 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 Privacy@

fcc.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Elliot S. Tarloff at 202–418–0886 or 

Privacy@fcc.gov. 

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 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
59524 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 29, 2023 / Notices 

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 

Medicaid benefits administered by the 

Department of Health and Human 

Services, Centers for Medicare and 

Medicaid Services. 

Participating Agencies 

Department of Health and Human 

Services, Centers for Medicare and 

Medicaid Services; Federal 

Communications Commission. 

Authority for Conducting the Matching 

Program 

The authority for the FCC’s ACP is 

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 

Public Law 117–58, 135 Stat. 429, 1238– 

44 (2021) (codified at 47 U.S.C. 1751– 

52); 47 CFR part 54. The authority for 

the FCC’s Lifeline program is 47 U.S.C. 

254; 47 CFR 54.400 through 54.423; 

Lifeline and Link Up Reform and 

Modernization, et al., Third Report and 

Order, Further Report and Order, and 

Order on Reconsideration, 31 FCC Rcd 

3962, 4006–21, paras. 126–66 (2016) 

(2016 Lifeline Modernization Order). 

Purpose(s) 

The purpose of this modified 

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 

Medicaid. 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 

have received Lifeline and/or ACP 

benefits. 

Categories of Records 

The categories of records involved in 

the matching program include, but are 

not limited to, the last four digits of the 

applicant’s Social Security Number, 

date of birth, first and last name, and 

state of residence. The National Verifier 

will transfer these data elements to the 

Department of Health and Human 

Services, Centers for Medicare and 

Medicaid Services, which will respond 

either ‘‘yes’’ or ‘‘no’’ that the individual 

is enrolled in a qualifying assistance 

program: Medicaid administered by the 

Department of Health and Human 

Services, Centers for Medicare and 

Medicaid Services. 

System(s) of Records 

The CMS System of Records Notice 

(SORN) that supports this matching 

program is ‘‘Transformed—Medicaid 

Statistical Information System (T– 

MSIS)’’, System No. 09–07–0541, last 

published in full at 84 FR 2230 

(February 16, 2019). 

The FCC SORNs that support this 

matching program are: (1) ‘‘FCC/WCB– 

1,’’ Lifeline, which was published in the 

Federal Register at 86 FR 11526 (Feb. 

25, 2021); and (2) ‘‘FCC/WCB–3,’’ 

Affordable Connectivity Program, which 

was published in the Federal Register at 

86 FR 71494 (Dec. 16, 2021). 

Federal Communications Commission. 

Katura Jackson, 

Federal Register Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2023–18540 Filed 8–28–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

[OMB 3060–1167; FR ID 166669] 

Information Collection Being 

Submitted for Review and Approval to 

Office of Management and Budget 

AGENCY: Federal Communications 

Commission. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort 

to reduce paperwork burdens, as 

required by the Paperwork Reduction 

Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal 

Communications Commission (FCC or 

the Commission) invites the general 

public and other Federal Agencies to 

take this opportunity to comment on the 

following information collection. 

Pursuant to the Small Business 

Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC 

seeks specific comment on how it might 

‘‘further reduce the information 

collection burden for small business 

concerns with fewer than 25 

employees.’’ 

DATES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be 

submitted on or before September 28, 

2023. 

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to 

www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 

Find this particular information 

collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 

30-day Review—Open for Public 

Comments’’ or by using the search 

function. Your comment must be 

submitted into www.reginfo.gov per the 

above instructions for it to be 

considered. In addition to submitting in 

www.reginfo.gov also send a copy of 

your comment on the proposed 

information collection to Cathy 

Williams, FCC, via email to PRA@

fcc.gov and to Cathy.Williams@fcc.gov. 

Include in the comments the OMB 

control number as shown in the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

additional information or copies of the 

information collection, contact Cathy 

Williams at (202) 418–2918. To view a 

copy of this information collection 

request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) go 

to the web page http://www.reginfo.gov/ 

public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the 

section of the web page called 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1