HR-7386 — First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026

YourVoice.Now Summary

Transparency & Accountability

Keeps the network police and fire crews use running through 2037, with faster outage alerts and closer federal control.

Transparency & Accountability

Oversight of the first-responder network agency — Commerce Department approves most actions

The agency would no longer be called independent. Most of its choices would need a yes from NTIA first, but emergency work, planning, and budgets stay exempt.

First responders on the agency's board — 5 required, up from 3

Today three members need past public safety service in fields like fire, medical, police, or 9-1-1. Within three years, at least five would have to be state, local, or Tribal responders working now.

Yearly public report on network problems — cyberattacks and unplanned outages

Each year NTIA would report to Congress on hacking, cyber defense, and network outages. The report would be public, with a secret part allowed.

Contractor's performance graded yearly — added to the required independent audit

An outside auditor already reviews the agency each year. That audit would also have to judge how well the contractor builds, runs, and maintains the network.

Outage alerts within 30 minutes — contractor must notify the network agency

Today there is no deadline to report an outage. The contractor would have 30 minutes once it confirms one, and must give agencies a live status tool.

Disaster recovery plan required — contractor files it every 5 years

The contractor would file its first plan within 180 days, then every five years after that. NTIA would have 180 days to approve it or explain in writing why not.

FirstNet contract shared with Congress — within 7 days of a request

Today the contract between the agency and AT&T does not have to go to Congress. Leaders of either oversight committee could ask for it and get it in seven days.

First-responder network agency's end date — moved from 2027 to 2037

The agency that runs FirstNet was set to shut down in February 2027 under a 15-year limit from 2012. The end date moves to September 30, 2037, and a watchdog report to Congress would come due seven years out.

More about this bill

Police, fire, and medical crews share a national wireless network called FirstNet. The agency that runs it was set to close on February 22, 2027. This bill would keep it open until September 30, 2037. It would not change what you pay or what you file. The effects land on public safety agencies and on the company that runs the network under contract. That company is AT&T today. The agency would lose its independent status. Most of its decisions would need advance sign-off from NTIA, the Commerce Department office above it. Emergency response, planning, and budget work would stay exempt. NTIA would get 60 days to answer network spending requests. A new senior manager, hired under civil service rules, would run daily operations. Within three years, the board would need at least five working first responders, up from three. The contractor would take on new duties. It would have to report any unplanned outage within 30 minutes. It would have to give user agencies a live status tool. Every five years it would file a disaster recovery plan for NTIA to approve. Yearly audits would grade its work. NTIA would send Congress yearly reports on cyberattacks and outages. A second yearly report would cover how many first responders use the network. The agency's contract would go to committee leaders within seven days of a request.

Congressional Summary

This bill extends through FY2037 and modifies the management of the First Responder Network (FirstNet) Authority. (The FirstNet Authority oversees the development and operation of FirstNet, a nationwide, interoperable broadband network for first responders.) The bill also requires certain actions of the entity operating FirstNet. Currently, the FirstNet Authority is an independent agency within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The bill removes the FirstNet Authority’s independent status and establishes an associate administrator in the NTIA to manage the FirstNet Authority’s operations. The FirstNet Authority’s actions must be subject to NTIA approval, with exceptions established by the NTIA. The FirstNet Authority’s Board must include at least five (currently, three) individuals who have served as public safety professionals.The entity contracted to develop and operate FirstNet (currently AT&T) must notify the FirstNet Authority within 30 minutes of any network outage and provide users with a network status tool to monitor outages. Every five years, such entity must submit to the NTIA for approval a business continuity and disaster recovery plan to ensure rapid restoration of the network following disaster-caused outages. Annual audits of the FirstNet Authority must include an evaluation of such entity’s performance.The NTIA must brief Congress annually regarding FirstNet and provide annual reports relating to cybersecurity and network adoption rates. Within seven years after the bill’s enactment, the Government Accountability Office must report on what action Congress should take regarding the termination of the FirstNet Authority in 2037.

Legislative Subjects

Advisory bodiesComputer security and identity theftComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightEmergency communications systemsEmergency planning and evacuationFirst responders and emergency personnelGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsPerformance measurementPublic contracts and procurementTelephone and wireless communication

Details

Congress: 119th
Chamber: House
Status: summarized
Action: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Action Date: 2026-04-21
Date Added: 2026-04-17
Source: Congress.gov →

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