Bill > HR7386

This bill, the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026, aims to extend the operational life and refine the governance of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), a critical nationwide public safety broadband network designed to provide reliable communication for emergency personnel. Key provisions include reauthorizing FirstNet until September 30, 2037, and establishing new timelines for its operations and reporting. The bill also places FirstNet's actions under the approval of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), requiring the NTIA to create a list of actions that do not need prior approval, while other actions will require NTIA's consent. Furthermore, it mandates that the FirstNet Board must include at least five public safety professionals and introduces an Associate Administrator position to manage staff and operations, reporting to the NTIA. The bill also clarifies the components of the nationwide public safety broadband network, allows for more flexibility in establishing fee amounts, requires the FirstNet contractor to submit business continuity and disaster recovery plans, and mandates timely outage notifications to FirstNet and relevant federal agencies. Finally, it requires the FirstNet contractor to submit its contract to Congress upon request and defines terms like "FirstNet contractor" and "interoperable" to ensure clear understanding of the network's functions and relationships.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7386/all-info