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House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology U.S. House of Representatives
Follow its sittingsSpeaker 1
Thank you. I now recognize the gentleman from Kentucky, the chairman of the full committee, for his opening statement.
Speaker 4
Thank you, Chairman Hudson, for holding this important markup today. And today, we'll take the first vote to advance the First Responder Network Reauthorization Act. This legislation will ensure the first net is reauthorized for another 10 years. The bill also makes some reforms to improve transparency, accountability, and leadership, and also ensures longevity and continued development of this network as technology evolves. I wanna reiterate Chairman Hudson's comments that there is still work to be done on this legislation.
We are continuing to hear from public safety groups and other stakeholders about ways to improve certain provisions in this legislation, and we will continue to work with them in good faith to improve the bill. We wanna ensure that our first responders have the most reliable communications network when they need it most. Natural disasters like tornadoes and floods that have devastated my great Commonwealth in recent years have disrupted communications, networks, cutting people off from resources and information in critical moments. Just trying to figure out where your family is is critical as well. So our work today is meant to ensure that FirstNet delivers a reliable, resilient network for public safety so they can do their jobs in these emergency situations.
I wanna thank the sponsors of this bill, Representative Dun and McClellan, for their work and commitment to improving public safety for first responders and all Americans. I know there is more work to be done here, and I look forward to seeing the finished legislation. And, mister chairman, I'll yield back.
Speaker 1
Thank you. I now recognize the gentleman from New Jersey, the ranking member, for his opening statement.
Speaker 5
Thank you, Chairman Hudson. Today, the subcommittee is considering bipartisan legislation introduced by representatives McCullen and Don to reauthorize the first responder network authority. We must reauthorize this authority to ensure we're providing first responders with reliable, interoperable communications during emergencies, when it matters most. It's critical that we resolve the looming sunset of FirstNet, and I commit to doing all I can to support that effort. Now, at the subcommittee hearing last week on this bill, 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 the crisis occurs, but also supports increased connectivity during major events like the Super Bowl or the World Cup finals at the Meadowlands in New Jersey later this year. So 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 expand coverage and upgrade services more recently, the FirstNet board has ensured public safety has multiple seats at the table and a central role in the authorities' activities. It's critically important that we ensure the voices of public safety leaders remain at the table. That's why I'm pleased the legislation today actually improves public safety representation on the board by raising the number of board seats reserved for public safety representatives from 3 to 5.
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, and this should address the issue of brain drain from the board, while alleviating the burden of refilling many vacancies at one time. It's also clear, however, that the original classification law of the first responder network authority as both an independent authority and an authority under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration 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. And the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General has identified a handful of troubling circumstances and actions that make clear there's not enough oversight of the executive director position under the current structure, which prevents accountability when it's called for. So this 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.
And I appreciated feedback from witnesses and public safety stakeholders who have recommended that the community 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. So I look forward to continuing to work with Chairs Guthrie and Hudson, ranking member Matt Suhey, and representatives McCullin and Dunn to continue to strengthen the bill in order to build broad support in advance of the full committee markup. And I'm 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. So thank you again, Mr. Chairman.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Speaker 1
Thank you, gentlemen. The chair reminds members that pursuant to committee rules, all members' opening statements will be made part of the record. Are there any further opening statements?
Speaker 1
Mister, gentleman from Florida. Mister Dunn is recognized for his opening statement.
Speaker 1
Gentleman's recognized for five minutes. A little early? Three minutes. Three minutes.
Speaker 6
I urge support for our bipartisan bill of first responder network authority reauthorization act, and I thank Representative McClellan for coleading it with me. As America nears its 25th anniversary of nine eleven, it is clear we have to fulfill our duty to reauthorize our most important communications network. And I applaud the chair, committee chairman Hudson, chairman Guthrie, and ranking member, of course, my colleague representative McCollin. Last week, we held a hearing where we heard from sheriff Atkinson of Walton County, Florida, NTIA, and ATT for the need to reauthorize the program. Like I stated last week, when Congress created the First Responder Network Authority, there was a clear mandate to have a public safety preemptive network that would be used exclusively for first responders on the ground.
Our nation's heroes and public servants alike, who were the first to respond, the first people who put their lives on the line, deserve a robust communication system. It was a very clear mandate to give our local communities the resources they need to respond to tragedies. Since 2017, when this was first awarded, this has been a tremendous success story. This public-private partnership has flourished and created new markets and strong competition. We've also learned lessons that our job is oversight of the program is critical.
This includes contract transparency, maintaining accountability at all levels. FirstNet is imperative to Florida's Panhandle before and after a disaster. We know all too well the effects. My district has been hit by 4 major hurricanes for the past 8 years. Most recently, Helene, and most devastatingly, Hurricane Michael, which we're still rebuilding from, in 2018.
As we continue to fine-tune this legislation, I must acknowledge it is a work in progress. I'm confident that through our conversations with stakeholders and members of this committee, we will achieve success. We must ensure the members of the board of FirstNet from our public safety communication have the authority to make crucial decisions for the integrity and continuity of the program. And I look forward to finalizing these discussions, and ultimately passing a bill that everyone can support. I thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back.
Speaker 1
Thank you, gentlemen. Are there any further opening statements? Seeing not, the chair calls up HR 36 30 73 86 and asks the clerk to report.
Speaker 1
Objection. The first reading of the bill is dispensed with, and the bill will be open to amendment at any point. So ordered. Does anyone seek to be recognized on the bill? Chair, recognize the gentleman from Florida for 5 minutes.
Speaker 1
Five minutes. Sorry. Let me get my act together here. Five minutes to speak on the bill. You are recognized.
Speaker 8
Thank you, chairman. During hurricanes, fires, even deep freezes like we recently had in Central Florida, reliable communication is critical for our brave first responders to save lives. After 09:11, with the terrorist attacks that hit both New York and DC, Congress stepped up, creating FirstNet with spectrum sale proceeds. There was an audacious goal, making sure every community, no matter how rural or urban or in between, gets access to dependable communications for their emergencies. Every American deserves that protection.
I contacted several Central Florida agencies, and we saw that there are several that use FirstNet currently. Orange County Sheriff's Department, Osceola County Emergency Management Department, the City of Kissimmee, Saint Cloud, Osceola Sheriff's Department, as well as Polk Fire. We got some great feedback from our local folks. Captain Brandon Reagan from the sheriff's office in Orange County said, currently, nearly half of our cellular devices operate on the FirstNet network. While all major cellular carriers provide some level of preemption during emergencies for designated customers, FirstNet is specifically designed to prioritize first responders during disaster situations. We heard an announcement from our emergency management director, Bill Litton.
Yes. Emergency management uses FirstNet as our cell phone provider. We have had good experiences with the service and the resources for FirstNet that they can provide for county pre and post disaster communications. He went on and talked about the reliability and how two new towers were added. And then Poke County Fire also has said that the transition has been smooth and their cell service is reliable through the county.
Particularly in Osceola and Polk, we have a lot of rural areas. We also heard back in the committee from Sheriff Atkinson, from up in the Panhandle, especially during Hurricane Michael, which went from a cat 1 to a cat 5 hurricane in one day. I know doctor Dunn remembers that terrible storm hitting his district, and it was amazing to hear how the communication stood up early on when everything else failed. He did have other advice for us that I encourage us to consider, which is making sure we're empowering the independent commission, which is made up of mostly first responders, to make sure public safety is the first concern. That'd be consistent with Congress's intent on this.
Stagger terms, five seats, three years per term, and authority to make certain decisions to make sure that public safety is first. Lastly, I was encouraged by the investments we see so far, 14,000,000,000 with 40,000,000,000 more to go in private sector investments. The last thing that is critical is redundancy, making sure that in the rare instances where cellular fails, that we have backups with satellite communications as well, and we heard about the progress on that. For that and more, I'm excited to be able to support this authorization. Hope we'll take up some of the other recommendations from our amazing witnesses as we get to the full committee.
Any yield back?
Speaker 1
Thanks, gentlemen. Is there any further discussion on the bill? What purposes? General from Texas seeks to be recognized?
Speaker 9
Thank you for the five minutes. I'll take three minutes, Mr. Chairman. In my district, FirstNet is not some abstract policy. It's a daily necessity. Local first responders rely on FirstNet every day to maintain secure, reliable communication during emergencies, natural disasters, and major incidents.
In Tarrant County, FirstNet also plays an important role in supporting the district attorney's office by ensuring smooth coordination with law enforcement and public safety partners, particularly during high-risk operations and large-scale investigations. I also wanna recognize the strong role of the private sector partnering supporting FirstNet in our region. Their ongoing investment, local engagement, and commitment to public safety have made a meaningful difference for first responders and the broader community in North Texas. The reliability that FirstNet provides directly enhances public safety outcomes in my district, and I appreciate the continued focus on strengthening and sustaining this network for those who protect our communities. I look forward to supporting this bill for everyone back home in my district, and I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Is there any further discussion on the bill? What purpose is your honor from California? Is it correct?
Speaker 7
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As you all know, I'm an emergency physician, but I'm also a disaster aid specialist. And, when there's disaster, like 09:11 or a form of natural disaster where people are frantically calling their families to reassure that they're okay. It's been difficult for first responders to break through, and that's why this FirstNet was created in the first place, to give first responders critical access in communication that will save lives. And I've seen it in my practice.
I've seen it even in disaster locations like in Haiti. When people and health providers and first responders cannot communicate effectively, then people die. It just takes longer for them to get the care they need. In the 25th District of California where I live and represent and grew up, we also have our natural disasters. We have extreme heat with a lot of dust. We've had some 100-year storms that have taken down power lines.
We have problems with our communication systems, reduced visibility, damaging critical equipment, stretching response times to the breaking point. With these dust storms, first responders in these areas operate far from major infrastructure during wildfires, dust storms, power shutoffs, and prolonged extreme heat. For them, reliable emergency communications are not a convenience. They are lifesaving, and that's why reauthorizing the First Responder Network Authority or FirstNet is so critical. FirstNet ensures that when everything else fails, first responders can still communicate.
It is no longer an experiment. It is essential national infrastructure that must be maintained, monitored, and strengthened. Just six days ago, we sat in this room and discussed the importance of this bill and your commitment to advancing it, and I appreciate that it reauthorizes FirstNet through 2037, providing long-term stability while prioritizing reliability, transparency, and equity. The bill addresses real operational challenges. It requires regular business continuity and disaster recovery plans, crucial because failure during emergencies puts lives at risk.
It ensures FirstNet can recover quickly and serve rural and tribal communities like those in my district just as effectively as urban areas. It also gives first responders timely, accurate information through improved outage notification and status tools, allowing them to make life-saving decisions in real time. And finally, the bill addresses a critical grab. Rural areas and tribal nations often face the greatest risk with the fewest resources. Adoption gaps and cost barriers threaten interoperability.
Annual reporting by geography and profession is critical, and we cannot fix inequities that we cannot measure. This legislation recognizes that reliability, transparency, and accessibility must work together, and first responders must be able to communicate when it matters most. That ability is essential to saving lives and keeping communities safe. I yield back.
Speaker 1
Thank you, gentlemen. Is there any further discussion on the bill? For what person? General Lee from Virginia seeks recognition.
Speaker 2
Thank you, Chairman Hudson and Ranking Member Matt Tzuyu, for prioritizing this subcommittee's work to reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority and your leadership in advancing this important discussion. FirstNet remains a cornerstone of our nation's public safety communications infrastructure. Born out of the lessons of the September 11 tragedy, it was designed to ensure that first responders, no matter where they serve, have access to a reliable, interoperable, and resilient communications network during our most critical moments. As natural disasters, extreme weather events, and other emergencies become more frequent and complex, that mission is more important than ever. This legislation takes an important bipartisan step to ensure that our public safety community is well-equipped and prepared to meet the current and evolving emergency landscape.
It does so by reauthorizing FirstNet for the long term, providing certainty and stability for the public safety users who rely on the network every day. At the same time, the bill strengthens oversight, accountability, and transparency at the FirstNet Authority. In particular, it clarifies and reinforces NTIA's oversight of the authority, improves reporting to Congress, and provides greater visibility into the network and its contractors' performance. These provisions are not intended to disrupt operations, but rather to allow FirstNet to continue operating in a manner that is accountable, responsive, and worthy of the trust placed in it by our first responders. Importantly, this discussion draft preserves the network's operational continuity while ensuring that governance structures keep pace with the scale, importance, and maturity of FirstNet as a nationwide system.
Oversight and stability should not be competing goals. It is important to note that this bill is not the finished product. Today's markup represents an important starting point, and I look forward to working closely with Doctor Dunn, the chair and ranking member, and the public safety community so that the final legislation reflects the needs and priorities of the FirstNet authority, the contractor, commercial partners, and most importantly, the first responders who depend on this network in life-and-death situations. I appreciate the committee's thoughtful consideration of this legislation and look forward to continuing this bipartisan work as the bill moves forward. And I yield back.
Speaker 1
Thank you. Is there any further discussion on the bill? For what purposes does the general Louisiana seek to be recognized?
Speaker 10
I strongly support the extension of the FirstNet program, a vital communications resource for our first responders. Through representatives McClellan and Dunn's bipartisan legislation, HR 7386, the first responded network authority auth reauthorization act. Public safety stakeholders in Louisiana and across the country have called on Congress to reauthorize FirstNet and to protect the program, which is so critical to protecting lives and ensuring effective emergency responses in districts like mine. I proudly represent Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District where New Orleans is a hub for entertainment, festivals, sporting events, and concerts. The walkability of our city, combined with the culture, food, and hospitality of New Orleans, means that we are responsible for protecting countless mass gatherings throughout the year.
In my hometown now, we're celebrating Mardi Gras, where undoubtedly our first responders will be able to test every bit of their fiber to ensure that they're keeping people safe, and they have access to safe communications. Louisiana also currently faces the threats from Mother Nature. So we're always planning for the threats from hurricanes and floods when considering the security of any mass gathering. Our communities must be well equipped and prepared to respond when disasters and emergencies strike, especially in our rural and underserved communities. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this very important bill and ensure our first responders have the tools they need to protect and serve our communities effectively and efficiently.
Mister chairman, I yield the balance of my time.
Speaker 1
I thank the gentleman. Is there any further discussion on the bill? Question now occurs when adopting HR 73 86. All those in favor, say aye. Aye.
Those opposed, no. The ayes have it, and the bill is adopted and forwarded to the full committee. That objection, staff is authorized to make technical and conforming changes to the legislation approved by the committee today. So ordered. Without objection, the committee stands adjourned.
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