First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026

This bill would extend the authorization for the First Responder Network (FirstNet) Authority through fiscal year 2037 and transition it from an independent agency to a division within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The legislation proposes new oversight requirements, including a mandate for the network operator to notify the Authority of outages within 30 minutes and the submission of five-year disaster recovery plans. Additionally, the bill would increase the required number of public safety professionals on the Authority’s board and require annual reports to Congress on cybersecurity and network adoption.

This bill affects the First Responder Network Authority and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which will assume direct management of the authority's operations. The private entity contracted to operate the network is subject to new outage notification and disaster recovery planning requirements, while the authority's board must now include at least five members with public safety professional experience. Additionally, first responders who use the nationwide broadband network are affected by the implementation of new network status tools for monitoring outages.

• Extension of FirstNet Authority. Extends the authorization for the First Responder Network Authority through fiscal year 2037 to continue overseeing the nationwide interoperable broadband network for first responders.
• Restructuring of Agency Management. Removes the independent status of the FirstNet Authority and places it under the management of an associate administrator within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
• Board Composition and Oversight Changes. Increases the required number of public safety professionals on the FirstNet Authority Board from three to five and subjects the Authority's actions to NTIA approval.
• Network Outage Reporting and Monitoring Requirements. Requires the network operator to notify the FirstNet Authority within 30 minutes of an outage and provide a status tool for users to monitor network conditions.
• Disaster Recovery and Performance Auditing. Mandates the submission of a business continuity and disaster recovery plan every five years and requires annual audits to evaluate the performance of the entity operating the network.
• Congressional Reporting and Future Evaluation. Requires the NTIA to provide annual briefings and reports on cybersecurity and adoption rates, while directing the Government Accountability Office to report on the potential termination of the Authority by 2037.

The bill extends the First Responder Network Authority through fiscal year 2037. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office is required to report on the potential termination of the Authority within seven years of the bill's enactment.

This bill extends the operational authority of the First Responder Network (FirstNet) through fiscal year 2037 and modifies its governance by removing its status as an independent agency. It reconfigures the FirstNet Authority as a subordinate entity within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and increases the required number of public safety professionals serving on its board.

The bill aims to extend the authorization of the First Responder Network (FirstNet) Authority through fiscal year 2037 while restructuring its management under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. It seeks to enhance network reliability and oversight by establishing new reporting requirements for outages, disaster recovery planning, and public safety representation on the Authority’s board.