by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
The Reauthorizing of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) – H.R. 7386
On February 10th, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology voted to reauthorize FirstNet.
From NATOA:
The House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology today approved with a bipartisan voice vote the Markup of H.R. 7386 – To reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet.)
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) was created through the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 as an independent authority within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to develop a dedicated, reliable, secure, and interoperable nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN) to support the communications needs of first responders and other public safety officials. Congress allocated $7B of spectrum auction revenue to its startup and, 9 years ago, FirstNet awarded AT&T a 25-year, $6.5 billion contract and 20 megahertz (20 MHz) of spectrum to build, operate, and maintain the nationwide public safety network.
FirstNet’s authority is set to expire on February 22, 2027. This bill will renew FirstNet’s mandate through Sept. 30, 2037.
Both the House and the Senate have held hearings recently to improve the administration and functionality of the FirstNet.
The House bill approved by the subcommittee by unanimous voice vote will move to the full Committee. H.R. 7386 will:
- Remove language in current law which has FirstNet as an “independent authority” within NTIA/Commerce
- Give NTIA approval of FirstNet’s actions other than those on a specified list developed by NTIA
- Create an associate administrator position within the Commerce Department to oversee the FirstNet Authority
- Require NTIA to report annually to Congress on cybersecurity and outages, and on both the adoption & the deployment of FirstNet by public safety services and by geographic area.
- Raise the number of Board seats for public safety representatives from three to five and stagger terms.
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup of a bill to reauthorize FirstNet.
Good morning, and welcome to today’s subcommittee markup on the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act. I’m excited about our progress and taking this next step towards reauthorizing this important program.
Last week we heard from a great panel of witnesses who shared their expertise and experience with FirstNet and provided input on how this legislation would improve the network and ensure it operates in the best interest of public safety.
We heard directly from NTIA that not only is the FirstNet Board protected in statute, but they have no intention of dismantling or casting aside the FirstNet Board. It’s actually quite the opposite. NTIA relies on the Board to provide crucial expertise and direction on the needs of public safety. This legislation not only keeps the Board, but strengthens public safety’s voice by requiring two additional seats on the Board be dedicated to public safety.
I want to note this vote today does not signify we’re done working on this legislation. We are continuing to gather feedback from public safety groups and stakeholders about certain provisions in this legislation, and we have a lot of work in the coming weeks to ensure that this bill is the best possible version it can be before it reaches the House floor.
Reliable communications are absolutely essential for our first responders in emergencies. While a lot has been done to stand up this first-of-its-kind public safety communications network, there is more work to do to ensure the promise of FirstNet is fulfilled. In my home state of North Carolina, first responders have shared their frustrations about FirstNet not working during Hurricane Helene. The reforms included in the legislation before us today are intended to ensure that FirstNet delivers a reliable, interoperable communications network to our first responders, and the FirstNet Authority acts in the best interests of the public safety community it serves.
I want to thank my colleagues for their continued commitment to this issue and for their work developing this proposal. I look forward to reauthorizing the First Responder Network Authority.
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee markup of H.R. 7386, the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026.
Today the Subcommittee is considering bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives McClellan and Dunn to reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority. We must reauthorize this Authority to ensure we are providing first responders with reliable, interoperable communications during emergencies when it matters most. It is critical that we resolve the looming sunset of FirstNet and I commit to doing all I can to support that effort.
At the Subcommittee hearing last week on this legislation, witnesses stressed how the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network is an essential component of our emergency communications infrastructure. It provides an invaluable service keeping first responders connected not just when crises occur but also supports increased connectivity during major events like the Super Bowl this past Sunday in San Francisco, or the World Cup Finals at the Meadowlands in New Jersey later this year.
Much of FirstNet’s popularity with public safety users is the fact that the network has been deployed with direct input from public safety leaders who serve on the FirstNet Board. Since the early days of planning and standing up the network, to expanding coverage and upgrading services more recently, the FirstNet Board has ensured public safety has multiple seats at the table and a central role in the Authority’s activities.
It’s critically important that we ensure the voices of public safety leaders remain at the table. That’s why I am pleased the legislation before us today actually improves public safety representation on the Board by raising the number of Board seats reserved for public safety representatives from three to five. The bill also makes a technical correction to fix the stacking of Board terms so that only a portion of seats become vacant at one time. This should address the issue of brain drain from the Board while alleviating the burden of re-filling many vacancies at one time.
It is also clear, however, that the original classification in law of the First Responder Network Authority as both an independent authority and an authority under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has been a source of unnecessary confusion over the years. This unique situation has created structural problems with the FirstNet Authority that have, at times, opened the door to poor decision making and waste without any consequence for those responsible.
The Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General has identified a handful of troubling circumstances and actions that make clear there is not enough oversight of the Executive Director position under the current structure, which prevents accountability when it is called for.
The bill proposes to eliminate the ambiguity in current law by bringing the FirstNet Authority more formally under the purview of NTIA with the full intention of preserving the autonomy of FirstNet Authority leadership and employees over day-to-day operations, emergency response, strategic planning, and other activities they currently carry out. I appreciated feedback from witnesses and public safety stakeholders who have recommended that the Committee more explicitly contemplate the division of roles and responsibilities in the legislation. Those kinds of recommendations and others are highly useful as we move ahead with this process.
I look forward to continuing to work with Chairs Guthrie and Hudson, Ranking Member Matsui, and Representatives McClellan and Dunn to continue to strengthen the bill in order to build broad support in advance of a full Committee markup.
I am confident that with continued bipartisan cooperation and good-faith participation by Members and stakeholders alike, we will reauthorize FirstNet and guarantee first responders do not lose access to this critical service.
In the early years of FirstNet, JAG helped to spread the word of this important venture. All of us were invested in our Office of Emergency Managements in our own municipalities and the affiliation seemed destined and very relevant between our two groups.
And since we are still heavily entwined with our OEM’s, and they are interlinked through FirstNet during those emergencies when it truly matters the most. The importance of the passage of H.R. 7386 could not be made any clearer!
David Garb, Legislative Chair
Jersey Access Group
davegarb@paps.net
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Legislative Update March 2026: News from Trenton & Washington and FCC Legislation Changes
Posted: March 24, 2026 by Doug Seidel
by Dave Garb, Legislative Committee Chair
The Reauthorizing of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) – H.R. 7386
On February 10th, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology voted to reauthorize FirstNet.
From NATOA:
The House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology today approved with a bipartisan voice vote the Markup of H.R. 7386 – To reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet.)
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) was created through the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 as an independent authority within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to develop a dedicated, reliable, secure, and interoperable nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN) to support the communications needs of first responders and other public safety officials. Congress allocated $7B of spectrum auction revenue to its startup and, 9 years ago, FirstNet awarded AT&T a 25-year, $6.5 billion contract and 20 megahertz (20 MHz) of spectrum to build, operate, and maintain the nationwide public safety network.
FirstNet’s authority is set to expire on February 22, 2027. This bill will renew FirstNet’s mandate through Sept. 30, 2037.
Both the House and the Senate have held hearings recently to improve the administration and functionality of the FirstNet.
The House bill approved by the subcommittee by unanimous voice vote will move to the full Committee. H.R. 7386 will:
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup of a bill to reauthorize FirstNet.
Good morning, and welcome to today’s subcommittee markup on the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act. I’m excited about our progress and taking this next step towards reauthorizing this important program.
Last week we heard from a great panel of witnesses who shared their expertise and experience with FirstNet and provided input on how this legislation would improve the network and ensure it operates in the best interest of public safety.
We heard directly from NTIA that not only is the FirstNet Board protected in statute, but they have no intention of dismantling or casting aside the FirstNet Board. It’s actually quite the opposite. NTIA relies on the Board to provide crucial expertise and direction on the needs of public safety. This legislation not only keeps the Board, but strengthens public safety’s voice by requiring two additional seats on the Board be dedicated to public safety.
I want to note this vote today does not signify we’re done working on this legislation. We are continuing to gather feedback from public safety groups and stakeholders about certain provisions in this legislation, and we have a lot of work in the coming weeks to ensure that this bill is the best possible version it can be before it reaches the House floor.
Reliable communications are absolutely essential for our first responders in emergencies. While a lot has been done to stand up this first-of-its-kind public safety communications network, there is more work to do to ensure the promise of FirstNet is fulfilled. In my home state of North Carolina, first responders have shared their frustrations about FirstNet not working during Hurricane Helene. The reforms included in the legislation before us today are intended to ensure that FirstNet delivers a reliable, interoperable communications network to our first responders, and the FirstNet Authority acts in the best interests of the public safety community it serves.
I want to thank my colleagues for their continued commitment to this issue and for their work developing this proposal. I look forward to reauthorizing the First Responder Network Authority.
Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) delivered the following opening remarks at today’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee markup of H.R. 7386, the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026.
Today the Subcommittee is considering bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives McClellan and Dunn to reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority. We must reauthorize this Authority to ensure we are providing first responders with reliable, interoperable communications during emergencies when it matters most. It is critical that we resolve the looming sunset of FirstNet and I commit to doing all I can to support that effort.
At the Subcommittee hearing last week on this legislation, witnesses stressed how the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network is an essential component of our emergency communications infrastructure. It provides an invaluable service keeping first responders connected not just when crises occur but also supports increased connectivity during major events like the Super Bowl this past Sunday in San Francisco, or the World Cup Finals at the Meadowlands in New Jersey later this year.
Much of FirstNet’s popularity with public safety users is the fact that the network has been deployed with direct input from public safety leaders who serve on the FirstNet Board. Since the early days of planning and standing up the network, to expanding coverage and upgrading services more recently, the FirstNet Board has ensured public safety has multiple seats at the table and a central role in the Authority’s activities.
It’s critically important that we ensure the voices of public safety leaders remain at the table. That’s why I am pleased the legislation before us today actually improves public safety representation on the Board by raising the number of Board seats reserved for public safety representatives from three to five. The bill also makes a technical correction to fix the stacking of Board terms so that only a portion of seats become vacant at one time. This should address the issue of brain drain from the Board while alleviating the burden of re-filling many vacancies at one time.
It is also clear, however, that the original classification in law of the First Responder Network Authority as both an independent authority and an authority under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has been a source of unnecessary confusion over the years. This unique situation has created structural problems with the FirstNet Authority that have, at times, opened the door to poor decision making and waste without any consequence for those responsible.
The Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General has identified a handful of troubling circumstances and actions that make clear there is not enough oversight of the Executive Director position under the current structure, which prevents accountability when it is called for.
The bill proposes to eliminate the ambiguity in current law by bringing the FirstNet Authority more formally under the purview of NTIA with the full intention of preserving the autonomy of FirstNet Authority leadership and employees over day-to-day operations, emergency response, strategic planning, and other activities they currently carry out. I appreciated feedback from witnesses and public safety stakeholders who have recommended that the Committee more explicitly contemplate the division of roles and responsibilities in the legislation. Those kinds of recommendations and others are highly useful as we move ahead with this process.
I look forward to continuing to work with Chairs Guthrie and Hudson, Ranking Member Matsui, and Representatives McClellan and Dunn to continue to strengthen the bill in order to build broad support in advance of a full Committee markup.
I am confident that with continued bipartisan cooperation and good-faith participation by Members and stakeholders alike, we will reauthorize FirstNet and guarantee first responders do not lose access to this critical service.
In the early years of FirstNet, JAG helped to spread the word of this important venture. All of us were invested in our Office of Emergency Managements in our own municipalities and the affiliation seemed destined and very relevant between our two groups.
And since we are still heavily entwined with our OEM’s, and they are interlinked through FirstNet during those emergencies when it truly matters the most. The importance of the passage of H.R. 7386 could not be made any clearer!
David Garb, Legislative Chair
Jersey Access Group
davegarb@paps.net
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Category: Latest JAG News, Legislation/Regulation