Public Safety Communications Act
Sponsored By: Representative Cammack
In Committee
Summary
Creates an Office of Public Safety Communications within the NTIA to centralize federal work on Next Generation 9-1-1, FirstNet oversight, and advanced public safety communications technology.
Show full summary
- First responders and local public safety agencies: The Office will administer federal grants for Next Generation 9-1-1 and coordinate studies and prototypes that aim to improve emergency communications.
- FirstNet governance and accountability: The Office's head, a Senior Executive Service career official, will manage the First Responder Network Authority's duties and must audit FirstNet's activities annually.
- NTIA operations and contractors: The Associate Administrator reports to the Assistant Secretary and may hire contractors under federal procurement rules to conduct audits, testing, and prototyping work.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Annual audits of the First Responder network
If enacted, the bill would require the Associate Administrator to perform an annual audit of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) using general accounting principles. The Associate Administrator could hire contractors, procured under title 41, to perform parts of the audit.
Federal control of NG9-1-1 grants
If enacted, the bill would make the Associate Administrator run any federal grant program related to Next Generation 9-1-1 on behalf of the Assistant Secretary. The office would manage how NG9-1-1 grant money is awarded to states, local governments, and public-safety agencies.
New NTIA office for emergency communications
If enacted, the bill would create an Office of Public Safety Communications inside NTIA. The office would be led by a career Associate Administrator in the Senior Executive Service who reports to the Assistant Secretary. The office would centralize NTIA public-safety communications policy and coordination with state and local agencies.
Stronger federal oversight and prototyping
If enacted, the bill would require the Associate Administrator to analyze and advise on public-safety communications policy. The Associate Administrator would evaluate federal actions before the FCC, Congress, or other agencies and communicate policies at the Assistant Secretary's direction. The office would oversee federal studies and lead prototyping and deployment of advanced emergency communications technologies and manage FirstNet duties.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cammack
FL • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in