[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7386 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7386
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
_______________________________________________________________________
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''; and
(B) by striking ``15-year sunset'' and inserting
``termination''.
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''; and
(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) In general.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this subsection, the NTIA
shall, after providing an opportunity for public
comment, develop a list of actions that do not require
prior approval by the NTIA before the First Responder
Network Authority may take such an action. The First
Responder Network Authority may not take an action
that, at the time when such action is taken, is not on
such list, unless the NTIA has provided prior approval
for such action.
``(B) Rule of construction.--Nothing in
subparagraph (A) 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)''.
(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 actions taken by the First Responder Network Authority
on or after the date on which the list required by subsection (d)(2) of
section 6206 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of
2012 (47 U.S.C. 1426), as amended by this Act, is developed.
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 who have served as
public safety professionals.''.
(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 striking subparagraph (D).
(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, which shall be a
position in the Senior Executive Service and who shall be
appointed by the Assistant Secretary.
``(2) Duties.--The Associate Administrator shall do the
following:
``(A) Subject to the direction of the Board and
approval by the NTIA 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 First
Responder Network Authority and the NTIA, 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, spectrum bands, 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 Cybersecurity Matters.--The NTIA shall submit to
Congress an annual report that includes information on cyberattacks,
outages, and cyber defense efforts with respect to the nationwide
public safety broadband network. Each such annual report shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.
``(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.''.
(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.''.
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 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 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 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;
``(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; and
``(3) after receiving a notification under paragraph (1),
the First Responder Network Authority shall report such outage
for purposes of the--
``(A) Network Outage Reporting System of the
Federal Communications Commission; and
``(B) Disaster Information Reporting System of the
Federal Communications Commission.''.
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 First Responder Network Authority 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 (19) through (33) as
paragraphs (21) through (35), respectively;
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (18) as
paragraphs (16) through (19), respectively;
(3) 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.''; and
(4) by inserting after paragraph (19) (as so redesignated)
the following:
``(20) Interoperable; interoperability.--The terms
`interoperable' and `interoperability' mean ensuring, and the
ensuring of, respectively, communications for public safety
entities between networks, providers of commercial mobile
service and commercial mobile data service, and jurisdictions
through the use of commercial standards for mission-critical
services, quality of service, and priority mechanisms.''.
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