Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 153 / Thursday, August 12, 2021 / Notices 44363 

OMB Control No.: 3060–1218. 

Title: Carriage of Digital Television 

Broadcast Signals: Amendment to Part 

76 of the Commission’s Rules. 

Form No.: N/A. 

Type of Review: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities. 

Number of Respondents and 

Responses: 11 respondents and 11 

responses. 

Estimated Time per Response: 0.25 

hours (15 minutes). 

Frequency of Response: Third party 

disclosure requirement and 

recordkeeping requirement. 

Total Annual Burden: 3 hours. 

Total Annual Cost Burden: None. 

Obligation to Respond: Required in 

order to monitor regulatory compliance. 

The statutory authority for this 

information collection is contained in 

sections 4, 303, 614, and 615 of the 

Communications Act of 1934, as 

amended. 

Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: 

There is no need for confidentiality with 

this collection of information. 

Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No 

impact(s). 

Needs and Uses: The information 

collection imposes a notification 

requirement on certain small cable 

systems that become ineligible for 

exemption from the requirement to 

carry high definition broadcast signals 

in HD (adopted in FCC 15–65). In 

particular, the information collection 

requires that, beginning December 12, 

2016, at the time a small cable system 

utilizing the HD carriage exemption 

offers any programming in HD, the 

system must give notice that it is 

offering HD programming to all 

broadcast stations in its market that are 

carried on its system. Cable operators 

also must keep records of such 

notification. This information collection 

requirement allows affected broadcast 

stations to monitor compliance with the 

requirement that cable operators 

transmit high definition broadcast 

signals in HD. 

Federal Communications Commission. 

Marlene Dortch, 

Secretary, Office of the Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2021–17151 Filed 8–11–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

[FR ID: 42434] 

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 

Iowa Department of Human Services 

(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 September 13, 2021. This 

computer matching program will 

commence on September 13, 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, Pub. L. 

116–260, 134 Stat. 1182. EBBP is a 

program that helps 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 (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 EBBP. The purpose of this 

matching program is to verify the 

eligibility of EBBP applicants and 

subscribers by determining whether 

they receive Supplemental Nutrition 

Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits 

administered by the Iowa Department. 

Under FCC rules, consumers receiving 

these benefits qualify for Lifeline 

discounts and also for EBBP benefits. 

Participating Agencies 

Iowa Department of Human Services. 

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 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) 

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, 


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44364 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 153 / Thursday, August 12, 2021 / Notices 

1See Section 10(b) and 10(d) of the Federal 

Deposit Insurance Act. (12 U.S.C. 1820). See also 83 

FR 67033 (December 28, 2018). 

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 existing 

agreements with Iowa that permit 

matching for Lifeline and EBBP by 

checking an applicant’s/subscriber’s 

participation in SNAP. 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 Iowa Department which 

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

the individual is enrolled in a qualifying 

assistance program: Iowa Department of 

Human Services SNAP. 

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. 

Cecilia Sigmund, 

Associate Secretary, Office of the Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2021–17343 Filed 8–11–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE 

CORPORATION 

RIN 3064–ZA27 

Request for Information on the Federal 

Deposit Insurance Corporation’s 

Supervisory Approach to 

Examinations During the Pandemic 

AGENCY: Federal Deposit Insurance 

Corporation (FDIC). 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

information (RFI). 

SUMMARY: The FDIC is seeking 

information and comments from 

financial institutions for which the FDIC 

is the primary Federal regulator 

regarding the FDIC’s supervisory 

approach to examinations during the 

pandemic, including on-site and off-site 

activities, use of technology, and 

communication methods. 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

October 12, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, 

identified by RIN 3064–ZA27, by any of 

the following methods: 

• Agency website: https://

www.fdic.gov/resources/regulations/ 

federal-register-publications/. Follow 

the instructions for submitting 

comments on the Agency website. 

• Email: comments@fdic.gov. Include 

RIN 3064–ZA27 in the subject line of 

the message. 

• Mail: James P. Sheesley, Assistant 

Executive Secretary, Attention: 

Comments RIN 3064–ZA27, Federal 

Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th 

Street NW, Washington, DC 20429. 

• Hand Delivery/Courier: Comments 

may be hand-delivered to the guard 

station at the rear of the 550 17th Street 

NW building (located on F Street) on 

business days between 7:00 a.m. and 

5:00 p.m., EST. 

• Public Inspection: All comments 

received will be posted without change 

to https://www.fdic.gov/resources/ 

regulations/federal-registerpublications/, including any personal 

information provided, for public 

inspection. Paper copies of public 

comments may be ordered from the 

FDIC Public Information Center, 3501 

North Fairfax Drive, Room E–1002, 

Arlington, VA 22226, or by telephone at 

877–275–3342 or 703–562–2200. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RaeAnn Miller, Senior Deputy Director, 

Division of Risk Management 

Supervision, rmiller@fdic.gov, 202–898– 

3898; Michelle L. Cahill, Acting Senior 

Deputy Director, Division of Depositor 

and Consumer Protection; Bill 

Piervincenzi, Supervisory Counsel, 

Supervision, Legislation and 

Enforcement Branch, Legal Division, 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 

550 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 

20429. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background Information 

The FDIC has been performing on-site 

examinations of FDIC-supervised 

institutions since 1934, during which 

examiners review institutions’ records 

and meet with institution management 

and Boards of Directors to discuss 

findings. Safety and soundness 

examinations are conducted in 

accordance with Section 10(d) of the 

Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI Act). 

Section 10(d) requires the appropriate 

federal banking agency for an insured 

depository institution to conduct a fullscope, on-site examination at least once 

every 12 months, but permits a longer 

cycle—at least once every 18 months— 

for insured depository institutions that 

meet certain criteria.1

The FDIC also performs consumer 

compliance and Community 

Reinvestment Act (CRA) examinations 

to promote adherence to federal 

consumer protection and fair lending 

laws and regulations and the CRA. FDIC 

policy requires full-scope consumer 

compliance examinations to be 

conducted every 12 to 36 months 

depending on certain criteria such as an 

insured depository institution’s total 

assets and prior consumer compliance 

and CRA examination ratings. The 

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act established 

intervals between CRA examinations for 

insured depository institutions with 

assets at certain levels and based on 

specific criteria. 

For a number of years prior to the 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) 

pandemic, the FDIC has been leveraging 

advances in technology to allow 

examiners to conduct certain 

examination functions off-site that were 

previously performed on-site. The FDIC 

believes this leveraging of technology 

has improved the efficiencies in the 

examination process and helped reduce 

burden on the institution, enabling 

examiners to be more targeted and risk 

focused in the work performed on-site. 

On March 13, 2020, by Proclamation 

9994, the President of the United States 


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