FCC Updates Lifeline Privacy Records; FAA Proposes Airbus Helicopter Safety Directive

FCC Modifies Lifeline Program System of Records

The Federal Communications Commission is modifying an existing Privacy Act system of records, designated FCC/WCB-1, Lifeline Program, to update the Categories of Records in the System and add one new routine use: Routine Use (22), Suspension and Debarment Disclosure. The notice states that this action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records maintained by the agency.

The Lifeline Program, as the notice describes it, provides discounts for one Lifeline voice service and/or broadband internet access service (BIAS) per household — and the initial connection charge in certain Tribal areas — to qualifying low-income individuals, including survivors eligible to receive emergency communications support. The program explains that individuals may qualify through proof of income, proof of participation in another qualifying program, or proof of the need for emergency communications support for survivors, including documentation of financial hardship as defined in FCC regulations and orders. Since the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the notice states, the program has been administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Commission and, by delegation, of the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB).

The system of records, the notice explains, covers individuals who have started an application online or applied to participate in the Lifeline Program, respondents to consumer surveys related to the program, and enrollment representatives. The updated Categories of Records now encompass a broad range of data including names, dates of birth, the last four digits of Social Security Numbers or full Tribal identification numbers, residential and descriptive addresses, geolocation-based addresses, IP addresses, qualifying program participation, financial information, voice recordings, USAC-assigned identifying numbers, and — for ETC enrollment representatives — suspension and debarment history and current status. The system is maintained at USAC's offices at 700 12th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005, and at the WCB's offices at 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.

FAA Proposes Airworthiness Directive for Airbus Helicopter Rotor Controls

The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a new airworthiness directive (AD) covering all Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B3, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters. The proposed AD was prompted, the notice states, by a report of the loss of tightening torque between the upper ball bearing end and a main rotor (MR) servo-control.

According to the document, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) — the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union — issued EASA AD 2026-0132, dated July 8, 2026, to address the same unsafe condition. The EASA AD states that further investigations determined that the presence of paint or protection on the nut retainer (lock-washer) is the root cause for this loss of tightening torque, and that this deficiency may occur on any of the three — forward, left, and right — MR servo-controls installed on a helicopter. The FAA states that the unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in the disconnection of the upper ball bearing end from the MR servo-control and loss of control of a helicopter.

The proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the nut tightening torque of the upper ball bearing end of all MR servo-controls and, thereafter, after each removal and installation of an MR servo-control, a repeated inspection. The inspected components include those having a part number and manufacturer part number as identified in Appendix 1 of the MCAI, and the associated nut retainer (lock-washer) having manufacturer P/N 360A27-2121-20 or 365A27-8193-20. Depending on results, the document states, corrective actions may include re-inspecting the nut tightening torque, inspecting the threads of the MR servo-control and cleaning them if necessary, replacing the ball bearing end, replacing the MR servo-control, or contacting Airbus Helicopters for approved instructions. The proposed AD would also require reporting all inspection results. The FAA notes these products have been approved by the civil aviation authority of another country and are approved for operation in the United States, and that pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, that authority notified the FAA of the unsafe condition. The docket for this rulemaking is FAA-2026-11814; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00715-R.

What to Watch

• November 18, 2026: Written comments on the FCC's new Lifeline Program routine uses are due; the routine uses also become effective on this date unless comments require a contrary determination.
• October 19, 2026: The modified FCC/WCB-1 system of records becomes effective.
• December 3, 2026: The FAA must receive comments on the proposed Airbus Helicopters airworthiness directive NPRM by this date.

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