Citizen Brief

What your government is doing, plainly

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FEDUnited States · May 30, 2026

Privacy Act; New Matching Program for Lifeline and ACP

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FCC and USAC will conduct a new computer matching program with the New Mexico Health Care Authority to verify eligibility for Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefits.

The Bottom Line

This program aims to ensure that individuals receiving or applying for Lifeline and ACP benefits are indeed eligible by cross-referencing their information with New Mexico's SNAP and Medicaid enrollment data.

Highlights

  • The matching program will verify eligibility for the Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
  • It involves the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), and the New Mexico Health Care Authority.
  • Eligibility will be verified by checking if applicants/subscribers receive SNAP and Medicaid benefits in New Mexico.
  • The program aims to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in these benefit programs.
  • The matching program will commence on July 1, 2026, and conclude after 18 months.

Key Numbers

  • $3.2 billion in monthly consumer discounts for broadband service and one-time provider reimbursement for a connected device (laptop, desktop computer or tablet) for EBBP.
  • $14.2 billion additional funding for ACP.

Source Verification

Federal Communications Commission | Federal Government | 91 FR 104

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Source receipt

✓ Quote-grounded
Federal Register — FCC
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/01/2026-10839/privacy-act-of-1974-matching-program
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Quoted passages this brief is built from (5)
  • "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 New Mexico Health Care Authority."
    — SUMMARY
  • "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."
    — SUMMARY
  • "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."
    — SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
  • "The purpose of this new 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."
    — PURPOSE(S)
  • "This new agreement will permit eligibility verification for the Lifeline program and ACP by checking an applicant's/subscriber's participation in SNAP and Medicaid in New Mexico Health Care Authority."
    — PURPOSE(S)