McClellan, Dunn Advance Bipartisan Bill to Extend and Strengthen FirstNet Public Safety Communications Network

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Congressman Neal Dunn (FL-02)'s bill, H.R. 7386, unanimously advanced out of the Energy & Commerce Committee, where it now heads to the House floor for a vote. The bill, the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act, extends authorization of FirstNet, a critical dedicated wireless communications network for public safety agencies and first responders, through 2037 while improving coordination and transparency and removing unnecessary barriers.

Born out of the lessons learned during the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11th, FirstNet has allowed the public safety community to continue communicating in the midst of emergencies. As the climate crisis exacerbates and results in more frequent extreme weather events and severe storms, FirstNet must remain reliable, resilient and adaptive. Without Congressional action, the legal authority of the First Responder Network Authority (FNA) is set to expire in February 2027. The product of a bipartisan effort, this bill strengthens accountability while preserving the flexibility FirstNet requires to operate in real time.

"The bill advanced out of committee today continues to deliver for the brave men and women who rely on it to get through life-or-death situations by strengthening our emergency communications network," said Congresswoman McClellan. "When every second counts, our public safety community must have the best and most effective tools at their disposal. It's our duty as a legislative body to ensure that FirstNet remains strong, responsive and ready to meet new and emergent challenges for years to come, and I thank Congressman Dunn for working across the aisle with me to draft a bipartisan bill that puts our first responders first."

"Floridians know that in hurricanes and times of crisis, reliable communication for first responders can mean the difference between life and death," said Congressman Dunn. "The First Responder Network Authority is imperative during disasters and recovery. I thank Congresswoman McClellan for her partnership on this clear mandate to reauthorize FirstNet, and I am proud that our bill unanimously passed full committee markup."

Specifically, the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act would:

• Extend the FNA's statutory authorization through September 2037;
• Remove the FNA's "independent" entity status and provide the NTIA with clear authority to manage and oversee FirstNet's management, operations, and investment decisions;
• Preserve the FirstNet Board's leadership over operational and strategic decisions, including network reinvestment activities and task orders;
• Increase public safety's representation on the FirstNet Board from three to five members (out of 15 total) and preserves the role of the Public Safety Advisory Committee;
• Provide the NTIA with authority to stagger FirstNet Board terms to ensure that vacancies are evenly distributed over time and not simultaneously;
• Establish the position of NTIA Associate Administrator to oversee the FNA;
• Expand the scope of allowable network reinvestments to keep up with wireless innovation;
• Require detailed reporting on the performance of the FirstNet contractor (currently AT&T), including annual reports on cybersecurity and service adoption rates;
• Require the FirstNet contractor to submit its Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan to the NTIA for approval;
• Require the FirstNet contractor to notify the FNA of a network outage within 30 minutes of discovery, and require the FirstNet contractor to maintain a network status tool, accessible to subscriber agencies, with up-to-date information on network outages; and
• Require the FNA to submit the FNA-AT&T contract to Congress at the written request of the House or Senate commerce committees.

Read the bill text here.