Search Results for keywords:"privacy protection"

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a new matching program with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and the Tennessee Department of Human Services. This program aims to verify the eligibility of people applying for or subscribed to the Lifeline program and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) by checking if they receive SNAP benefits in Tennessee. The initiative is expected to help confirm qualifications for these benefits, reduce fraud, and improve service to low-income consumers who rely on discounted broadband and voice services. Written comments about this program are due by March 27, 2025, and the program will last for 18 months starting from that date.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has finalized a rule that changes Regulation V of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to protect medical information in credit decisions. Previously, there was an exception allowing creditors to use medical debt information when deciding if someone qualifies for credit. With this new rule, creditors cannot use this information unless specific exceptions apply, and consumer reporting agencies are limited in what medical debt information they can share with creditors. This change aims to safeguard consumers' privacy and ensure medical information isn't wrongly used. The rule will become effective on March 17, 2024.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is proposing new rules to allow contributors to request that the Commission modify or redact their personal information, such as their mailing address, occupation, or employer name, from public records. This change is aimed at protecting contributors from possible threats, harassment, or reprisal arising from their contributions to political campaigns. The FEC invites public comments on this proposal, emphasizing that these procedures are intended to create a formal method for these requests while maintaining necessary transparency and legal adherence. Additionally, the modifications are designed to lessen the burden on entities filing reports and further uphold contributors' privacy rights.

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is inviting comments from the public and other Federal agencies on their information collection activities related to the Cooperative Game Fish Tagging Program. This program helps study the migration and biology of fish like billfish, tunas, and swordfish through tagged releases. Fishermen participate by attaching tags provided by NOAA to the fish they catch and release, then sending a report card with details back to NOAA. The information gathered assists in developing management plans for fisheries, and the program is seeking public feedback to ensure its effectiveness and efficiency.

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service, part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is implementing new regulations under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. These regulations require the Treasury to provide states with information about unredeemed U.S. savings bonds to help locate their owners. However, the information can only be used for locating bond owners, not for claiming ownership through state escheatment laws, which attempt to take control of unclaimed property. The regulations also include privacy protections and prevent states from publicly sharing the information without Treasury's consent to avoid fraud and misuse.