# 119-hr-7386: First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026 119-hr-7386, First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2] (R-FL); status passed_house; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7386 - As of: 2026-09-21 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-hr-7386 - Congress: 119 - Title: First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026 - Status: passed_house - Introduced: 2026-02-05 - Sponsor: Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2] (R-FL) - Cosponsors: 1 - Policy area: Emergency Management - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-09-21 ## Summary **Strengthening NTIA oversight and continuity of FirstNet.** This bill would extend the First Responder Network Authority's termination to September 30, 2037 and shift most approval authority to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to boost accountability and continuity for the public safety broadband network. - Public safety agencies would gain stronger reliability rules and tools. The FirstNet contractor would have to submit a business continuity plan within 180 days and notify outages as soon as practicable but no later than 30 minutes, plus provide a network status tool to users. - The FirstNet board and management would be reshaped. The board would be required to include at least five State, local, or Tribal public safety professionals within 3 years, adopt staggered terms, and the law would create a career Associate Administrator chosen from board nominees to run operations. - Contractors and federal overseers would face more scrutiny and transparency. Audits would evaluate contractor performance, Congress would get new annual reports and briefings, and NTIA must act on certain reinvestment recommendations within 60 days. ## Cosponsors (1) - Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2026-02-05T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - FirstNet extended to 2037 with planning: benefit, medium. This bill would extend the First Responder Network Authority through September 30, 2037. It would move up a required planning report to 7 years after enactment. The report would include recommendations to prepare for the end of any contract between FirstNet and its contractor. This would help avoid… - Stronger disaster recovery and outage alerts: benefit, medium. The FirstNet contractor would need to file a business continuity and disaster recovery plan within 180 days, and update it every 5 years. NTIA would approve it or give written reasons and a resubmission path within 180 days of receipt. The contractor would notify FirstNet of any confirmed unschedul… - Clearer network scope and contractor definition: benefit, low. The bill would update the law to describe the network by what it must do, like secure, interoperable, resilient, and prioritized communications for public safety. It would also define “FirstNet contractor” as the company that builds, operates, and maintains the network. These changes would clarify… - More reports to Congress on FirstNet: benefit, low. NTIA would brief two congressional committees each year, starting within one year of enactment. NTIA would send two annual reports: one on cyberattacks, cyber defense, and outages (unclassified with an optional classified annex), and one on adoption rates by job type and location. FirstNet’s audit… - Stronger FirstNet leadership and Board: benefit, low. This bill would create a career Associate Administrator to run FirstNet day to day. The Assistant Secretary would appoint from three Board‑nominated candidates, and NTIA would review performance each year; the current Executive Director could continue in the role. Starting 3 years after enactment,… - NTIA would approve most FirstNet decisions: mixed, high. This bill would require NTIA approval before most FirstNet actions. Exceptions would include emergency deployments, setting strategy, adopting the budget, managing devices and apps, outreach, and reporting to Congress. NTIA would have 60 days to act on written recommendations about reinvestment or… - More flexible timing for FirstNet fees: mixed, low. FirstNet would be able to set network fees for each fiscal year or for other periods. Any fee schedule would still need NTIA approval. This would change timing, not set amounts, and could affect when agencies are billed. ## Related bills - 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025 - 119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025 - 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025 - 119-hr-9211: Jewish American Security Act - 119-hr-6766: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 - 119-hr-1227: Alternatives to PAIN Act ## Sources - [119-hr-7386 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7386) ## Related - [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669) - [119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4393) - [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900) - [119-hr-9211: Jewish American Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9211) - [119-hr-6766: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6766) - [119-hr-1227: Alternatives to PAIN Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1227) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7386 (as of 2026-09-21).