[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7386 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 533
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7386
[Report No. 119-615]
To amend the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to
reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 5, 2026
Mr. Dunn of Florida (for himself and Ms. McClellan) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
April 15, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on
February 5, 2026]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to
reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority, and for other
purposes.
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 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 Administrator under subsection (h) of
section 6204 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of
2012 (47 U.S.C. 1424), as added by subsection (a), on and after such
date of enactment without the need for appointment under such
subsection (h).
SEC. 6. COMPONENTS OF NATIONWIDE PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND NETWORK.
Section 6202(b) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act
of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1422(b)) is amended, in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``and initially consists of'' and inserting
``and consists of such technologies and services as necessary to enable
secure, interoperable, resilient, and prioritized broadband
communications for public safety entities, including''.
SEC. 7. FLEXIBILITY IN ESTABLISHING FEE AMOUNTS.
Section 6208(b) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act
of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1428(b)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(or other period specified by the First
Responder Network Authority)'' after ``for each fiscal year'';
and
(2) by striking ``the fiscal year involved'' and inserting
``such fiscal year (or other period)''.
SEC. 8. REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY.
(a) Additional Matters to Be Included in First Responder Network
Authority Audit Report.--Section 6209(b)(2) of the Middle Class Tax
Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1429(b)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) an evaluation of the performance of the
FirstNet contractor under the contract in building,
operating, and maintaining the nationwide public safety
broadband network.''.
(b) Annual Reports to Congress.--Subtitle B of title VI of the
Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1421 et
seq.), as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is further
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 6214. ANNUAL REPORTS ON FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY.
``(a) Report on Network Matters.--The NTIA shall submit to Congress
an annual report that includes information on cyberattacks, cyber
defense efforts, and unscheduled service outages of all causes with
respect to the nationwide public safety broadband network. Each such
annual report--
``(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may
contain a classified annex; and
``(2) at the request of the Board, shall include a
statement from the Board with respect to such information.
``(b) Report on Adoption Rates.--The NTIA shall submit to Congress
an annual report on adoption rates, by profession and geographic area,
with respect to the nationwide public safety broadband network that, at
the request of the Board, shall include a statement from the Board with
respect to such adoption rates.''.
(c) Annual Briefing.--Subtitle B of title VI of the Middle Class
Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.), as
amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by
adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 6215. ANNUAL BRIEFINGS ON FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY.
``Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
section, and annually thereafter, the NTIA shall provide to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a
briefing on activities with respect to the First Responder Network
Authority that, at the request of the Board, shall include the
participation of the Chair of the Board (or a designee thereof).''.
SEC. 9. BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN.
Subtitle B of title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.), as amended by the
preceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by adding at the
end the following:
``SEC. 6216. BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this section, and every 5 years thereafter, the FirstNet
contractor shall submit to the NTIA for approval, and to the Board for
review, a business continuity and disaster recovery plan to ensure
rapid restoration of the nationwide public safety broadband network
following an outage resulting from a natural disaster or other
emergency.
``(b) Timing of Approval or Request for Resubmission.--Not later
than 180 days after the date on which the NTIA receives a plan
submitted under this section, the NTIA, in consultation with the Board,
shall--
``(1) approve such plan; or
``(2) provide to the FirstNet contractor a written notice
of--
``(A) the reasoning for not approving such plan;
and
``(B) the timeframe and process, as determined by
the NTIA, for resubmitting such plan for approval.''.
SEC. 10. OUTAGE NOTIFICATIONS.
Subtitle B of title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.), as amended by the
preceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by adding at the
end the following:
``SEC. 6217. OUTAGE NOTIFICATIONS.
``In the case of any unscheduled service outage with respect to the
nationwide public safety broadband network--
``(1) as soon as practicable, but not later than 30
minutes, after the FirstNet contractor has confirmed such
outage, the FirstNet contractor shall notify the First
Responder Network Authority of such outage; and
``(2) the FirstNet contractor shall provide to the
departments and agencies that use such network a network status
tool that provides timely information on such outage.''.
SEC. 11. SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS OF FIRSTNET CONTRACT.
Subtitle B of title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
Creation Act of 2012 (47 U.S.C. 1421 et seq.), as amended by the
preceding provisions of this Act, is further amended by adding at the
end the following:
``SEC. 6218. SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS OF FIRSTNET CONTRACT.
``Not later than 7 days after receiving a request, in writing, from
the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of
the House of Representatives, or from the Chair and Ranking Member of
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate,
the Assistant Secretary shall submit to such Committee 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. 12. DEFINITIONS.
Section 6001 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of
2012 (47 U.S.C. 1401) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (33) as
paragraphs (16) through (34), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (14) the following:
``(15) Firstnet contractor.--The term `FirstNet contractor'
means the entity that, under contract with the First Responder
Network Authority, builds, operates, and maintains the
nationwide public safety broadband network.''.
Union Calendar No. 533
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7386
[Report No. 119-615]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to
reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
April 15, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed