44020 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 11, 2021 / Notices 

requirements for all Uniendo a Puerto 

Rico Fund and Connect USVI Fund 

Stage 2 mobile support recipients. 

Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and 

Connect USVI Fund Stage 2 mobile 

support recipients will also file network 

coverage and other data as required by 

the Commission’s orders. The 

Commission and USAC will use this 

information to monitor the deployment 

progress of mobile carriers and to verify 

that carriers meet the public interest 

obligations for 4G LTE and 5G mobile 

broadband and voice services in the 

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the 

U.S. Virgin Islands. Instead of filing in 

the HUBB portal, mobile support 

recipients will submit their reports 

electronically as part of a web form 

accessed via the Commission’s Form 

477 portal (477 Portal) and the 

Electronic Comment Filing System 

(ECFS). This collection mechanism is 

being used to reduce the technological 

burden on the public and the 

Commission, as carriers and the public 

are familiar with both of these systems. 

The Commission’s Wireline 

Competition Bureau (WCB) will specify 

the filing process by which Stage 2 

mobile support recipients must file their 

reports in the 477 Portal prior to the 

filing deadlines. 

In the 2020 Rural Digital Opportunity 

Fund Order, the Commission adopted a 

support mechanism to provide funding 

through a competitive auction to 

connect rural homes and businesses to 

high-speed broadband networks. The 

Commission established specific public 

interest obligations and deployment 

milestones for all carriers receiving this 

support. Specifically, the Commission 

imposed defined deployment 

obligations and associated HUBB 

reporting requirements (annual location 

reporting and build-out certifications) 

for all support recipients. We therefore 

propose to revise this information 

collection. Finally, we propose to 

increase the burdens associated with 

existing and new reporting requirements 

to account for additional carriers that 

will be subject to these requirements. 

Federal Communications Commission. 

Marlene Dortch, 

Secretary, Office of the Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2021–17114 Filed 8–10–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

[FR ID: 42435] 

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 establishment 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 

Mississippi Department of Human 

Services (Department). The purpose of 

this matching program is to verify the 

eligibility of applicants to and 

subscribers of the Emergency Broadband 

Benefit Program, which is administered 

by USAC under the direction of the 

FCC, or other federal programs that use 

qualification for the FCC’s Lifeline 

Program as an eligibility criterion. More 

information about this program is 

provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section below. 

DATES: Written comments are due on or 

before September 10, 2021. This 

computer matching program will 

commence on September 10, 2021, and 

will conclude 18 months after becoming 

effective. 

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 202–417–1707 or 

Privacy@fcc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 helps lowincome 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 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 

Program (SNAP) benefits administered 

by the Mississippi Department. Under 

FCC rules, consumers receiving these 

benefits qualify for Lifeline discounts 

and also for EBBP benefits. 

Participating Non-Federal Agencies 

Mississippi Department of Human 

Services (Department). 

Authority for Conducting the Matching 

Program 

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 

2021, Public Law 116–260, 134 Stat. 

1182; 47 CFR part 54. 

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 

matching program is to verify the 

eligibility of EBBP applicants and 

subscribers by determining whether 

they receive SNAP benefits 

administered by the Mississippi 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 11, 2021 / Notices 44021 

Department. 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 

EBBP benefits; are currently receiving 

benefits; are individuals who enable 

another individual in their household to 

qualify for EBBP benefits; are minors 

whose status qualifies a parent or 

guardian for EBBP benefits; or are 

individuals who have received EBBP 

benefits. 

Categories of Records 

The categories of records involved in 

the matching program include, but are 

not limited to first and last name, date 

of birth and the last four digits of the 

applicant’s Social Security Number. The 

National Verifier will transfer these data 

elements to the Mississippi Department, 

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

that the individual is enrolled in an 

EBBP-qualifying assistance program: 

State of Mississippi’s SNAP and 

Medicaid. 

System(s) of Records 

The USAC 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. 

Katura Jackson, 

Federal Register Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2021–17278 Filed 8–9–21; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS 

COMMISSION 

[FR ID: 42433] 

Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program 

AGENCY: Federal Communications 

Commission. 

ACTION: Notice of a computer matching 

program. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Privacy Act of 1974, as amended 

(‘‘Privacy Act’’), this document 

announces the notice 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 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 

Development (HUD) (‘‘Agency’’). 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 10, 2021. This 

computer matching program will 

commence on September 10, 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, 

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 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, 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 Federal Public Housing 

Assistance benefits administered by the 

HUD. Persons receiving these benefits 

qualify for Lifeline discounts and also 

for EBBP benefits. 

Participating Non-Federal Agencies 

U.S. Department of Housing and 

Urban Development. 

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 matching 

agreement is to verify the eligibility of 

applicants and subscribers to Lifeline 

(existing purpose), as well as to the new 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES