Support the Reauthorization of the First Responder Network Authority

ACTION NEEDED:

Urge your Members of Congress to pass legislation to reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) – the nation’s sole network dedicated exclusively to supporting essential local public safety communications. Without Congressional action, the FirstNet Authority lapses in authorization in February 2027. In April 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the First Responder Network Reauthorization Act (H.R. 7386) to extend the FirstNet reauthorization date to 2037, clarify the mission of the NPSBN and encourage continued development of the network to meet emerging technology needs. The legislation now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate.

BACKGROUND:

The federal FirstNet Authority was established after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The tragedies of September 11 revealed fundamental problems with communication systems used by our nation’s first responders. The lack of the ability for first responders to communicate between different agencies and different jurisdictions was staggering.  

The idea for the FirstNet Authority was born out of a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission and supported by NACo. Congress recognized the need for a public safety communications network that could utilize dedicated radio spectrum to operate exclusively during an emergency to maximize effectiveness. Ever since its establishment, the FirstNet Authority has been involved with numerous responses to major incidents, including active shooter incidents, wildland fires, earthquakes, volcanoes and hurricanes. More than 27,000 public safety agencies and organizations subscribe to FirstNet.

NACo urges Congress to reauthorize the FirstNet Authority and preserve FirstNet for county end users. This will ensure that our nation’s first responders stay connected for years to come. Congress must act so that first responders do not lose the dedicated broadband network that they fought so diligently to establish. 

The incidents to which the FirstNet is deployed can occur almost anywhere in our nation. By responding to a wide variety of incidents in a diverse set of urban, suburban and rural communities, FirstNet has a proven track record of technological resourcefulness.

KEY TALKING POINTS:

• Congress must act swiftly to reauthorize the FirstNet Authority to ensure that communities are not disconnected from robust communications with federal and state agency resources during emergencies.  
• The FirstNet Authority has assisted counties in responding to a wide variety of emergencies, ranging from natural disasters to human-caused tragedies. NACo urges for the network’s extension to preserve our emergency response capabilities.