Post-9/11 First Responders Network Faces Congressional Scrutiny

In light of recent problems discovered, members of Congress are considering new legislation to improve FirstNet for first responders.

Both a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee and a Senate Commerce subcommittee have been considering measures that would make structural changes to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).

FirstNet was established in 2012 as a response to recommendations made after first responders struggled to adequately communicate during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Its initial funding came from the sale of spectrum by the Federal Communications Commission, but it was required under law to be permanently self-sufficient by collecting fees from various public safety agencies. 

Recent findings have brought to light some problems with FirstNet that have prompted scrutiny from members of Congress. One of the issues was that the service was not sufficiently available to first responders during the 2023 wildfires in Maui.

The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee will be marking up a bipartisan bill making changes to FirstNet. The Senate Commerce subcommittee has not yet drafted a bill, but has held its first hearing on the issue.

As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…

  • For representatives in the House as they move their bill throughout the evaluation process.
  • For members of the Senate as they begin to consider a draft of their own bill to improve FirstNet.
  • For first responders across the nation who depend on the reliability of the network to coordinate disaster assistance.

Sources: Roll Call, Homeland Security Today

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