Key Takeaways
- •Congress initiated the reauthorization process for FirstNet, a critical public safety broadband network, with bipartisan support, as its statutory authority is set to expire in early 2027.
- •Sheriff Adkinson (Witness) emphasized accountability for past FirstNet issues and recommended staggering board terms with more public safety representation for improved governance.
- •Sheriff Adkinson (Witness) told Rep. Hudson (Republican) that the FirstNet Executive Director, hired by NTIA, has previously defied board directives, causing accountability issues due to unclear authority.
- •Republicans and Democrats largely agreed on FirstNet's success but stressed the need for increased transparency and accountability, with differing views on the best governance structure to achieve this.
- •Congress will continue the reauthorization process for FirstNet, aiming to implement structural reforms, enhance accountability, and ensure the network's long-term success and technological evolution before its 2027 expiration.
Read the full transcript
Starting at $350/mo
- Full hearing transcripts
- Speaker timestamps with video verification
- Organization & competitor mentions
- Same-day delivery
- Personalized summaries
30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.
Hearing Analysis
Overview
On February 4, 2026, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a legislative hearing titled "Evaluating FirstNet: Performance, Accountability, and Reauthorization." The primary purpose of the session was to discuss a bipartisan discussion draft to reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) ahead of its statutory expiration in early 2027. Subcommittee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC-9) opened the hearing by emphasizing that while FirstNet has been a "generational infrastructure success" since its creation following the 9/11 Commission recommendations, it has faced significant oversight challenges. Chairman Hudson cited 21 reports from the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General (OIG) since 2014 that raised concerns regarding contract oversight, operational responses to natural disasters, and allegations of senior officials interfering with investigations or retaliating against whistleblowers.
Key Testimony
The hearing featured testimony from three key witnesses: Sheriff Michael Adkinson, Acting Board Chair of the FirstNet Authority; Michael Dame, Associate Administrator at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA); and Scott Agnew, President of FirstNet and Public Safety Mobility at AT&T. Sheriff Adkinson, who also serves as the Sheriff of Walton County, Florida, provided a "boots on the ground" perspective, describing FirstNet as a critical tool for first responders that provides priority and preemption during crises. However, he was candid about governance failures, stating that "when everyone is responsible, no one is accountable." He specifically highlighted a lack of clarity in the chain of command, noting instances where the FirstNet Executive Director—who is technically an NTIA employee—did not follow the Board's directives. Adkinson advocated for legislative changes to give the Board direct authority over the Executive Director and suggested staggering Board terms to ensure continuity.
Overview
Michael Dame of the NTIA supported the draft legislation’s proposal to move FirstNet directly under the NTIA as a "line office." He argued that the current "dotted line of independence" creates confusion and friction. Dame asserted that placing the authority clearly within the NTIA would strengthen oversight and resource stewardship without diminishing the Board’s role in making strategic public safety decisions. Conversely, Scott Agnew highlighted the success of the public-private partnership between the government and AT&T. He noted that AT&T has invested $14 billion of its own capital into the network and expects to invest a total of $40 billion over the life of the 25-year contract. Agnew detailed technical milestones, including the completion of the initial Band 14 build-out and the upcoming transition to a physically separate 5G core and direct-to-device satellite connectivity.
Policy proposals discussed during the hearing focused on structural reforms and technological evolution. The draft legislation includes provisions to stagger Board terms, mandate that at least five Board seats be held by public safety professionals, and require AT&T to provide outage notifications within 30 minutes. There was also significant discussion regarding "FirstNet Fusion," a new platform designed to enhance interoperability across different carriers and legacy land mobile radio (LMR) systems. Witnesses and lawmakers also discussed the need for "statutory flexibility" to allow FirstNet to incorporate emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) as the network evolves over the next decade.
The impact of FirstNet was discussed across various sectors, primarily law enforcement, fire services, and emergency medical services. Members from both parties shared anecdotes of FirstNet’s performance during recent disasters. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX-11) and Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL-9) highlighted the network's resilience during Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, while Rep. H. Griffith (R-VA-9) and Ranking Member Doris Matsui (D-CA-7) focused on the persistent need for better coverage in rural and mountainous areas. Industry stakeholders mentioned included AT&T, which operates the network, and satellite partners such as AST SpaceMobile and Starlink, which are being integrated to provide redundancy in "dead zones."
Partisan dynamics were notably collaborative, with members on both sides of the aisle agreeing on the necessity of reauthorization. Ranking Member Matsui and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6) emphasized that while the program is popular, transparency and accountability must be improved to ensure taxpayer dollars and spectrum resources are used effectively. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-4) and Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL-2), the lead sponsors of the reauthorization effort, were praised for their bipartisan work. A notable exchange occurred when Sheriff Adkinson used the "Eisenhower Interstate System" analogy to describe FirstNet, arguing that while private roads (commercial networks) exist, the government must ensure the "interstate" for public safety is always reliable. He also offered his resignation to the committee if they felt he was not being a good steward of the public trust, underscoring the seriousness of the accountability issues raised by the OIG.
As the hearing concluded, the primary next step identified was the formal introduction and markup of the reauthorization bill. Witnesses warned that if FirstNet is not reauthorized by February 2027, the FCC would be forced to pull back the Band 14 spectrum license, effectively collapsing the legal and technical foundation of the network. Chairman Hudson and Ranking Member Matsui expressed a commitment to moving the legislation through regular order to ensure a seamless transition and continued service for the nation's first responders.
Transcript
[Gavel sounds.] Subcommittee will come to order. The chair recognizes himself for an opening statement. Good morning. Welcome to today's legislative hearing on the First Responder Network Authority, or FirstNet. FirstNet's authorization expires at the beginning of next year, and it's this committee's duty to reauthorize the program before it expires. In the process, we should examine FirstNet's activities since its creation 15 years ago and make any changes necessary to improve its performance. Future of public safety relies on safe resources like FirstNet. So thank you all for joining us to ensure that our country is taken care of in the times of need. During the horrific terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, first responders from different agencies found they could not communicate with each other because they used different radio systems and overloaded networks prevented communications from going through. In the aftermath of these attacks, Congress stood up the 9/11 Commission, which made recommendations to prepare for and guard against future attacks. One of those recommendations led to Congress establishing FirstNet, a nationwide broadband network specifically built for public safety. FirstNet was allocated 20 megahertz of spectrum and $7 billion to build out the network in all 50 states and the territories. In 2017, AT&T was selected to deploy the network. Shortly after, FirstNet began providing priority and preemption. During a crisis when there is increased network traffic, non-FirstNet AT&T subscribers will be removed from the priority list to ensure first responders can always make the call. On December 20, 2023, the FirstNet Authority verified the initial nationwide build-out of the network. However, the successful build-out of this network does not mean it has not faced challenges. Since 2014, the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General has issued 21 reports regarding significant concerns about FirstNet and the deployment of the nationwide public safety broadband network, its operational response, and other administrative matters. Several of these reports highlight contract oversight shortcomings resulting in modified build-out objectives that jeopardize first responders' ability to do their job. Other reports indicate a failure of the network to adequately respond to a natural disaster and that a senior official at FirstNet interfered with the OIG's investigation and even retaliated against whistleblowers who cooperated with the OIG. This committee's work over the last several months has also identified a consistent and troubling finding. The ambiguous language regarding FirstNet's independence while simultaneously placing it directly within an executive branch agency has created confusion and strife for all parties involved when trying to manage this program. To ensure the long-term success of FirstNet, it is imperative there is a clear and consistent leadership. This leadership must be able to work hand-in-hand with the FirstNet board, not against it. I would like to emphasize that this draft legislation does not in any way remove the statutory requirement to have a board or their responsibilities to the First Responder Network Authority. The board is an incredibly valuable component of FirstNet and crucial for ensuring the experience and needs of first responders as well as the general public, not government bureaucrats, are reflected in the direction of the network. Additionally, we must ensure this network can evolve along with the technological landscape. Networks of 15 years ago are different than those of today and could be even more different 15 years from now. For the benefit of first responders, FirstNet should have the statutory flexibility to incorporate new network technologies to provide the most advanced service that public safety requires. I want to be clear. FirstNet has succeeded despite the challenges it's faced, and I would like to commend AT&T for building a nationwide safety communications network, making it a success and continuing to build it out and improve for the safety of others, and for being the only one to take it on in the first place. Congress is here to evaluate this program to ensure its long-term success for our first responders. Today is the first step in the reauthorization of this program. With FirstNet's statutory authority set to expire in 2027, it's time for Congress to assess FirstNet's progress and ensure that we provide a governing structure that sets up FirstNet to succeed into the future. Today we'll hear from our witnesses who are directly involved with FirstNet about the current state of the network and how the legislation before us will strengthen the First Responder Network Authority. I now recognize the ranking member, the gentlelady from California, for her opening statement.
Read the full transcript
Starting at $350/mo
- Full hearing transcripts
- Speaker timestamps with video verification
- Organization & competitor mentions
- Same-day delivery
- Personalized summaries
30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.
Not ready to subscribe?
Get a free daily digest with hearing summaries ranked by relevance.
Already have an account? Log in
