US House committee advances FirstNet reauthorization 51-0: governance shift to NTIA, 10-year extension to 2037, FOP opposition to oversight changes

The US House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 51-0 on 25 March to advance a bill reauthorising the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) through fiscal 2037. The bill transfers governance of FirstNet from an independent authority to NTIA oversight, requiring NTIA approval for major actions and replacing the CEO role with an NTIA associate administrator. The Fraternal Order of Police and former FirstNet board chairs opposed the governance changes, while AT&T and most major public safety groups supported the legislation. A Senate subcommittee held its own hearing in January but has not yet introduced companion legislation. FirstNet currently supports more than 29,500 public-safety agencies with 7.8 million connections across the US.