Congressman Brett Guthrie and Congressman Richard Hudson announced a legislative hearing on the reauthorization of FirstNet. The hearing, titled “Evaluating FirstNet: Performance, Accountability, and Reauthorization,” was scheduled for February 4, 2026, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., and focused on the bill known as the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act.
FirstNet was established following recommendations from the 9/11 Commission to improve emergency communications infrastructure. “As we continue to prepare for future man-made or natural disasters, FirstNet must remain on the leading edge of safety and reliability,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson. They emphasized that reauthorization was crucial for increasing transparency and effectiveness.
Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson Jr., Acting Board Chair of the First Responder Network Authority, provided testimony during the hearing. He highlighted that since its inception after September 11, 2001, FirstNet had become a vital resource for first responders across urban centers and rural areas throughout the U.S.
The network’s foundation was laid by Congress through the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which allocated spectrum exclusively for public safety use and established a self-sustaining model combining private sector innovation with government oversight. The Government Accountability Office estimated that constructing and operating the network could cost between $12 billion and $47 billion over ten years.
The FirstNet Authority continued to make investments to expand coverage and capabilities while addressing oversight issues identified by audits from the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General. Sheriff Adkinson stressed that reauthorization presented an opportunity to affirm Congress’s commitment to public safety while addressing challenges related to contract oversight and accountability.
Reforms were suggested to enhance statutory roles among NTIA, the Board, and the Authority while expanding reinvestment authorities into emerging technologies such as cybersecurity enhancements. Sheriff Adkinson also advocated for increasing public safety representation on the Board.
The hearing was open to public attendance and press coverage, with a livestream available online at energycommerce.house.gov.
