FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2026

On 2026-04-20, Representative Rick W. Allen (R-GA-12) delivered a floor speech titled "FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2026" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, crime and justice. It referenced legislation: HR7386.

FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2026

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 69 (Monday, April 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 69 (Monday, April 20, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2967-H2970] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2026 Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7386) to amend the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7386 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Reauthorization of First Responder Network Authority. Sec. 3. Authority of NTIA over First Responder Network Authority. Sec. 4. Board of First Responder Network Authority. Sec. 5. Associate Administrator. Sec. 6. Components of nationwide public safety broadband network. Sec. 7. Flexibility in establishing fee amounts. Sec. 8. Reports to Congress on First Responder Network Authority. Sec. 9. Business continuity and disaster recovery plan. Sec. 10. Outage notifications. Sec. 11. Submission to Congress of FirstNet contract. Sec. 12. Definitions. SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY. Section 6206 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1426) is amended-- (1) in subsection (f), by striking ``the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this title'' and inserting ``September 30, 2037''; and (2) in subsection (g)-- (A) by striking ``Not later than 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``Not later than 7 years after the date of the enactment of the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026''; (B) by striking ``15-year sunset'' and inserting ``termination''; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``Such report shall also contain recommendations for Congress and the NTIA regarding preparations for the expiration of any contract between the First Responder Network Authority and the FirstNet contractor with respect to building, operating, or maintaining the nationwide public safety broadband network.''. SEC. 3. AUTHORITY OF NTIA OVER FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY. (a) In General.--Subtitle B of title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.) is amended-- (1) in section 6204(a), by striking ``as an independent authority''; (2) in section 6206-- (A) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) as subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h), respectively; (B) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: ``(d) Actions Subject to Approval of NTIA.-- ``(1) In general.--Any action taken by the First Responder Network Authority shall be subject to the approval of the NTIA. ``(2) Manner of approval.-- ``(A) Prior approval.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the First Responder Network Authority may not take an action unless the NTIA has provided prior approval for such action. ``(B) Actions for which prior approval not required.--The First Responder Network Authority may take any of the following actions without prior approval by the NTIA: ``(i) Deploying emergency response capabilities and resources to emergencies and disasters. ``(ii) Setting strategic priorities and conducting planning activities with respect to the nationwide public safety broadband network. ``(iii) Maintaining and updating the First Responder Network Authority Strategic Plan and Roadmap or a similar document with respect to the growth, evolution, and advancement of the nationwide public safety broadband network. ``(iv) Establishing performance expectations and investment priorities with respect to the nationwide public safety broadband network. ``(v) Developing and adopting the annual budget of the First Responder Network Authority and outlining all network reinvestment decisions and task orders with respect to the nationwide public safety broadband network. ``(vi) Making written recommendations to the NTIA for action upon network reinvestment decisions and task orders with respect to the nationwide public safety broadband network. ``(vii) Managing the device and application ecosystem with respect to the nationwide public safety broadband network. ``(viii) Receiving reports from the Public Safety Advisory Committee or other advisory committees established by the First Responder Network Authority. ``(ix) Communicating with and conducting outreach to public safety entities and public safety professionals. ``(x) Reporting to and briefing Congress, in accordance with this subtitle. ``(xi) Such other actions as the NTIA may specify. ``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to alter the requirement of subsection (c) of section 6208 that fees may only be assessed under such section if approved by the NTIA.''; and (C) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated), by striking ``subsection (f)'' and inserting ``subsection (g)''; and (3) in section 6208(d)-- (A) by striking ``The First Responder Network Authority'' and inserting the following: ``(1) In general.--The First Responder Network Authority''; and (B) by adding at the end the following: ``(2) NTIA action on network reinvestment decisions and task orders.--Not later than 60 days after the date on which the NTIA receives a written recommendation from the First Responder Network Authority for action upon a network reinvestment decision or task order with respect to the nationwide public safety broadband network, the NTIA shall take action upon such network reinvestment decision or task order.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 6205(b)(2) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1425(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``If'' and inserting ``Subject to section 6206(d), if''. (c) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to-- (1) except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, actions taken by the First Responder Network Authority on or after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) in the case of paragraph (2) of section 6208(d) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job [[Page H2968]] Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1428(d)), as added by this section, written recommendations received by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. BOARD OF FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY. (a) Public Safety Professionals.--Section 6204(b)(2)(A) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1424(b)(2)(A)) is amended by amending clause (iv) to read as follows: ``(iv) ensure that, on and after the date that is 3 years after the date of the enactment of the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026, the Board includes not fewer than 5 individuals serving as State, local, or Tribal public safety professionals in the fields of fire response services, emergency medical services, emergency management services, law enforcement, or 9-1-1 services.''. (b) Staggered Terms.-- (1) In general.--Section 6204(c)(2) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1424(c)(2)) is amended-- (A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``3 years'' and inserting ``not more than 3 years''; and (B) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows: ``(D) Staggered terms.--In making appointments under subsection (b)(1)(D), the Secretary of Commerce shall ensure that the terms of office of individuals so appointed are staggered, as the Secretary considers appropriate to reduce the likelihood that the terms of office of more than 4 such individuals will expire at the same time.''. (2) Applicability.--The amendments made by this subsection shall apply with respect to appointments made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 5. ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR. (a) In General.--Section 6204 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1424) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(h) Associate Administrator.-- ``(1) In general.--The First Responder Network Authority shall have an Associate Administrator, who shall be a career appointee (as defined in section 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code) in the Senior Executive Service and who shall be appointed by the Assistant Secretary from among 3 individuals nominated by the Board. The Assistant Secretary shall make such appointment under the merit procedures applicable to appointing such career appointees under subchapter II of chapter 31 of such title 5. ``(2) Duties.--The Associate Administrator shall do the following: ``(A) Subject to the direction of the Board and approval by the Assistant Secretary under section 6206(d), manage the staff and operations of the First Responder Network Authority in order to ensure that the duties and responsibilities of the First Responder Network Authority are carried out. ``(B) Serve as a liaison between the Board and the Assistant Secretary, including with respect to ensuring compliance by the First Responder Network Authority with section 6206(d). ``(3) Annual performance reviews.--The NTIA, in consultation with the Chair of the Board and any committee of the Board relating to governance and risk, shall conduct an annual performance review of the Associate Administrator.''. (b) Continuation in Office.--The individual serving as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the First Responder Network Authority on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act may serve as the Associate Admini

Referenced legislation: HR7386, HR7386