First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 7386

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Emergency Management

Status

Passed House

Latest Action

2026-04-21: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Last Updated

2026-06-11T23:41:32Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose This legislation reauthorizes the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) to continue operating the nationwide public safety broadband network for emergency responders. It updates oversight, governance, reporting, and operational requirements to support network reliability and public safety communications.

Key Provisions

• Extends FirstNet's authorization from its prior 15-year sunset to September 30, 2037.
• Requires most FirstNet actions to receive prior approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), with exceptions for emergency deployments, strategic planning, budget development, and certain outreach activities.
• Updates the FirstNet Board to include at least five state, local, or tribal public safety professionals (fire, emergency medical, law enforcement, or 9-1-1 services) starting three years after enactment, and staggers board terms to avoid simultaneous expirations.
• Establishes an Associate Administrator position (a career senior executive) to manage daily operations and serve as a liaison to the NTIA, with annual performance reviews.
• Broadens the definition of the nationwide public safety broadband network to include any technologies and services needed for secure, interoperable, resilient, and prioritized communications.
• Allows flexibility in setting user fees by permitting periods other than a single fiscal year.
• Adds requirements for annual reports on cyberattacks, service outages, and adoption rates by profession and location; annual briefings to congressional committees; a business continuity and disaster recovery plan updated every five years; and prompt outage notifications within 30 minutes.
• Mandates submission of the FirstNet contract to Congress upon request by committee leaders.
• Defines the "FirstNet contractor" as the entity responsible for building, operating, and maintaining the network.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Shifts FirstNet from an independent authority to one operating under direct NTIA oversight for most decisions.
• Replaces the prior 15-year termination with a new end date and requires recommendations on contract expiration preparations.
• Introduces new reporting, planning, and notification obligations not present in the original Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.
• Modifies board composition rules and adds a senior management position with merit-based selection.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: Increases NTIA's role in approving FirstNet decisions and timelines for acting on network reinvestment recommendations (within 60 days).
• Citizens and public safety: Aims to improve network resilience through disaster recovery plans, faster outage alerts, and broader technology options, potentially benefiting emergency response.
• No direct effects on international relations are addressed.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• First Responder Network Authority and its Board.
• NTIA and the Department of Commerce.
• Public safety entities and professionals (fire, EMS, law enforcement, emergency management, and 9-1-1 services).
• The FirstNet contractor.
• Congressional committees overseeing commerce and communications.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Enhances executive branch oversight of a previously independent entity, which may affect operational autonomy.
• Adds accountability measures through expanded reporting and contract transparency without altering core fee approval requirements.
• Focuses on domestic public safety infrastructure with no apparent constitutional conflicts or international dimensions noted in the text.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]

Recent Actions

• 2026-04-21: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
• 2026-04-20: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
• 2026-04-20: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2967-2968)
• 2026-04-20: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2967-2968)
• 2026-04-20: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7386.
• 2026-04-20: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2967-2970)
• 2026-04-20: Mr. Allen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
• 2026-04-15: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 533.
• 2026-04-15: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-615.
• 2026-04-15: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-615.
• 2026-03-25: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 51 - 0.
• 2026-03-25: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2026-02-10: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
• 2026-02-10: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2026-02-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

Bill Versions

• First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-20 — PDF (18 pages)
• First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-05 — PDF (14 pages)
• First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-21 — PDF (17 pages)
• First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-15 — PDF (20 pages)