Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 23, 2021 / Notices 32929 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Margaret Drake at 202–418–1707 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 

and 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. 

The Emergency Broadband Benefit 

Program (EBBP) was established by 

Congress in the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act of 2021, Public Law 

116–260, 134 Stat. 1182. EBBP is a 

program that will help low-income 

Americans obtain discounted broadband 

service and one-time co-pay for a 

connected device (laptop, desktop 

computer or tablet). This program was 

created specifically to assist American 

families’ access to broadband, which 

has proven to be essential for work, 

school, and healthcare during the public 

health emergency that exists as a result 

of COVID–19. A household may qualify 

for the EBBP benefit under various 

criteria, including an individual 

qualifying for the FCC’s Lifeline 

program. 

In a Report and Order adopted on 

March 31, 2016, the Commission 

ordered USAC to create a National 

Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (‘‘National 

Verifier’’), including the National 

Lifeline Eligibility Database (LED), that 

would match data about Lifeline 

applicants and subscribers with other 

data sources to verify the eligibility of 

an applicant or subscriber. The 

Commission found that the National 

Verifier would reduce compliance costs 

for Lifeline service providers, improve 

service for Lifeline subscribers, and 

reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the 

program. 

The Consolidated Appropriations Act 

of 2021 directs the FCC to leverage the 

National Verifier to verify applicants’ 

eligibility for EBBP. The purpose of this 

matching program is to verify the 

eligibility of EBBP applicants and 

subscribers by determining whether 

they receive Medicaid or Supplemental 

Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 

benefits administered by the Kentucky 

Cabinet. Under FCC rules, consumers 

receiving these benefits qualify for 

Lifeline discounts and also for EBBP 

benefits. 

Participating Non-Federal Agencies 

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and 

Family Services, Division of Family 

Support. 

Authority for Conducting the Matching 

Program 

The authority for the FCC’s EBBP is 

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 

2021, Public Law 116–260, 134 Stat. 

1182; 47 CFR part 54. The authority for 

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

254; 47 CFR 54.400 et seq.; 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) 

In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization 

Order, the FCC required USAC to 

develop and operate the National 

Verifier to improve efficiency and 

reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the 

Lifeline program. The stated purpose of 

the National Verifier is ‘‘to increase the 

integrity and improve the performance 

of the Lifeline program for the benefit of 

a variety of Lifeline participants, 

including Lifeline providers, 

subscribers, states, community-based 

organizations, USAC, and the 

Commission.’’ 31 FCC Rcd 3962, 4006, 

para. 126. To help determine whether 

Lifeline applicants and subscribers are 

eligible for Lifeline benefits, the Order 

contemplates that the USAC-operated 

LED will communicate with information 

systems and databases operated by other 

Federal and State agencies. Id. at 4011– 

2, paras. 135–7. The Consolidated 

Appropriations Act of 2021 directs the 

FCC to leverage the National Verifier to 

verify applicants’ eligibility for EBBP. 

The purpose of this modified 

matching agreement is to verify the 

eligibility of applicants and subscribers 

to Lifeline (existing purpose), as well as 

to the new EBBP and to other Federal 

programs that use qualification for 

Lifeline as an eligibility criterion. This 

new agreement would replace the 

existing agreement with Kentucky, 

which permits matching only for the 

Lifeline program by checking an 

applicant’s/subscriber’s participation in 

SNAP or Medicaid. Under FCC rules, 

consumers receiving these benefits 

qualify for Lifeline discounts and also 

for EBBP benefits. 

Categories of Individuals 

The categories of individuals whose 

information is involved in the matching 

program include, but are not limited to, 

those individuals who have applied for 

Lifeline and/or EBBP benefits; are 

currently receiving Lifeline and/or 

EBBP benefits; are individuals who 

enable another individual in their 

household to qualify for Lifeline and/or 

EBBP benefits; are minors whose status 

qualifies a parent or guardian for 

Lifeline and/or EBBP benefits; or are 

individuals who have received Lifeline 

and/or EBBP 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, and first and last name. 

The National Verifier will transfer these 

data elements to the Kentucky Cabinet 

which will respond either ‘‘yes’’ or ‘‘no’’ 

that the individual is enrolled in a 

qualifying assistance program: Kentucky 

Cabinet for Health and Family Services, 

Division of Family Support, SNAP or 

Medicaid. 

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 86 FR 11526 (Feb. 

25, 2021). 

The records shared as part of this 

matching program reside in the EBBP 

system of records, FCC/WCB–3, 

Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, 

which was published in the Federal 

Register at 86 FR 11523 (Feb. 25, 2021). 

Federal Communications Commission. 

Marlene Dortch, 

Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2021–13215 Filed 6–22–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

[FR ID: 33520] 

Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program 

AGENCY: Federal Communications 

Commission. 

ACTION: Notice of a new matching 

program. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Privacy Act of 1974, as amended 

(‘‘Privacy Act’’), this document 

announces the modification of a 

computer matching program the Federal 

Communications Commission (‘‘FCC’’ 

or ‘‘Commission’’ or ‘‘Agency’’) and the 

Universal Service Administrative 

Company (USAC) will conduct with the 


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32930 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 118 / Wednesday, June 23, 2021 / Notices 

New Mexico Human Services 

Department (Department). The purpose 

of this matching program is to verify the 

eligibility of applicants to and 

subscribers of Lifeline (existing 

purpose) and the new Emergency 

Broadband Benefit Program, 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 July 23, 2021. This computer 

matching program will commence on 

July 23, 2021, and will conclude 18 

months after the effective date. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Margaret 

Drake, FCC, 45 L Street NE, Washington, 

DC 20554, or to Privacy@fcc.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Margaret Drake at 202–418–1707 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 

and 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. 

The Emergency Broadband Benefit 

Program (EBBP) was established by 

Congress in the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act of 2021, Public Law 

116–260, 134 Stat. 1182. EBBP is a 

program that will help low-income 

Americans obtain discounted broadband 

service and one-time co-pay for a 

connected device (laptop, desktop 

computer or tablet). This program was 

created specifically to assist American 

families’ access to broadband, which 

has proven to be essential for work, 

school, and healthcare during the public 

health emergency that exists as a result 

of COVID–19. A household may qualify 

for the EBBP benefit under various 

criteria, including an individual 

qualifying for the FCC’s Lifeline 

program. 

In a Report and Order adopted on 

March 31, 2016, the Commission 

ordered USAC to create a National 

Lifeline Eligibility Verifier (‘‘National 

Verifier’’), including the National 

Lifeline Eligibility Database (LED), that 

would match data about Lifeline 

applicants and subscribers with other 

data sources to verify the eligibility of 

an applicant or subscriber. The 

Commission found that the National 

Verifier would reduce compliance costs 

for Lifeline service providers, improve 

service for Lifeline subscribers, and 

reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the 

program. 

The Consolidated Appropriations Act 

of 2021 directs the FCC to leverage the 

National Verifier to verify applicants’ 

eligibility for EBBP. The purpose of this 

matching program is to verify the 

eligibility of EBBP applicants and 

subscribers by determining whether 

they receive Medicaid or Supplemental 

Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 

benefits administered by the New 

Mexico Human Services Department. 

Under FCC rules, consumers receiving 

these benefits qualify for Lifeline 

discounts and also for EBBP benefits. 

Participating Non-Federal Agencies 

New Mexico Human Services 

Department. 

Authority for Conducting the Matching 

Program 

The authority for the FCC’s EBBP is 

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 

2021, Public Law 116–260, 134 Stat. 

1182; 47 CFR part 54. The authority for 

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

254; 47 CFR 54.400 et seq.; 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) 

In the 2016 Lifeline Modernization 

Order, the FCC required USAC to 

develop and operate the National 

Verifier to improve efficiency and 

reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in the 

Lifeline program. The stated purpose of 

the National Verifier is ‘‘to increase the 

integrity and improve the performance 

of the Lifeline program for the benefit of 

a variety of Lifeline participants, 

including Lifeline providers, 

subscribers, states, community-based 

organizations, USAC, and the 

Commission.’’ 31 FCC Rcd 3962, 4006, 

para. 126. To help determine whether 

Lifeline applicants and subscribers are 

eligible for Lifeline benefits, the Order 

contemplates that the USAC-operated 

LED will communicate with information 

systems and databases operated by other 

Federal and State agencies. Id. at 4011– 

2, paras. 135–7. The Consolidated 

Appropriations Act of 2021 directs the 

FCC to leverage the National Verifier to 

verify applicants’ eligibility for EBBP. 

The purpose of this modified 

matching agreement is to verify the 

eligibility of applicants and subscribers 

to Lifeline (existing purpose), as well as 

to the new EBBP and to other Federal 

programs that use qualification for 

Lifeline as an eligibility criterion. This 

new agreement would replace the 

existing agreement with New Mexico, 

which permits matching only for the 

Lifeline program by checking an 

applicant’s/subscriber’s participation in 

SNAP or Medicaid. Under FCC rules, 

consumers receiving these benefits 

qualify for Lifeline discounts and also 

for EBBP benefits. 

Categories of Individuals 

The categories of individuals whose 

information is involved in the matching 

program include, but are not limited to, 

those individuals who have applied for 

Lifeline and/or EBBP benefits; are 

currently receiving Lifeline and/or 

EBBP benefits; are individuals who 

enable another individual in their 

household to qualify for Lifeline and/or 

EBBP benefits; are minors whose status 

qualifies a parent or guardian for 

Lifeline and/or EBBP benefits; or are 

individuals who have received Lifeline 

and/or EBBP 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, and last name. The 

National Verifier will transfer these data 

elements to the New Mexico Human 

Services Department which will 

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

individual is enrolled in a qualifying 

assistance program: New Mexico 

Human Services Department, SNAP or 

Medicaid. 

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 86 FR 11526 (Feb. 

25, 2021). 

The records shared as part of this 

matching program reside in the EBBP 

system of records, FCC/WCB–3, 

Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, 

which was published in the Federal 

Register at 86 FR 11523 (Feb. 25, 2021). 

Federal Communications Commission. 

Marlene Dortch, 

Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2021–13218 Filed 6–22–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 


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