One day after the House of Representatives passed legislation reauthorizing the First Responder Network Authority by voice vote, the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) pushed back against claims that the organization failed to engage with lawmakers on the bill, releasing a letter detailing what it describes as months of sustained communication that went largely unheard.
In an April 21, 2026, letter to Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, FOP National President Patrick Yoes disputed Hudson’s characterization that the FOP had “rebuffed” outreach on the legislation. Instead, Yoes outlined a timeline of engagement dating back to summer 2025, including written testimony, multiple letters for the record, and regular staff communications; followed by exclusion from critical February and March meetings that shaped the final bill.
“I want to be crystal clear: we want to be fully and consistently included in every future negotiation and conversation about this legislation,” Yoes wrote. “Our members are the ones whose lives are on the line. Their safety must remain the central focus of any reauthorization effort.”
Hudson, in a statement celebrating the House passage, said: “In drafting this bipartisan bill, we brought everyone to the table to get it right. It builds on what works, fixes what doesn’t, and ensures FirstNet delivers a reliable, interoperable network that will keep our communities safer.”
The contrasting statements highlight a dispute over process and inclusion that emerged despite unanimous support for reauthorizing the program itself.
The Legislative Journey
The First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act (H.R. 7386) passed the full House on April 20 by voice vote, with no opposition; the same unanimous support it received when clearing the House Energy and Commerce Committee in February 2026. The legislation, led by Representatives Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) and Neal Dunn (R-FL), would extend the FirstNet Authority through September 2037, preventing the program’s sunset in February 2027.
Hudson stated the legislation “will improve crisis communications with a stronger First Responder Network Authority, while prioritizing the needs of our First Responders to meet all Americans. It will strengthen oversight, improve reliability, and ensure first responders have the communications tools they need in emergencies.”
The bill addresses calls for additional oversight following multiple Inspector General inquiries by requiring the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to approve most actions taken by the FirstNet Authority. Language added during committee consideration would spell out certain actions the FNA board could take without requiring NTIA approval first.
“FirstNet was created in the aftermath of 9/11 to ensure our first responders can stay in touch, protect our communities, and save lives during a crisis,” Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ) stated on social media following the vote. “Today @EnergyCommerce worked together to pass a bipartisan bill to reauthorize this important program.”
AT&T, which operates FirstNet under contract with the Commerce Department, expressed support for the legislation. “Today’s bipartisan unanimous vote sends a strong signal about the value of FirstNet to first responders and the communities they serve across the country,” said Mike Ferguson, AT&T’s Executive Vice President of Federal Legislative Relations. “We now encourage the Senate to take up reauthorization as soon as possible so the President can sign a bill into law.”
The Public Safety Broadband Technology Association also welcomed the House action, stating: “Public Safety supports FirstNet and the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority. FirstNet is a valuable asset used daily by first responders and the public safety community. Public Safety thanks the House of Representatives for listening.”
The FOP’s Account: Engaged But Excluded
According to Yoes’ letter, the FOP’s engagement began in summer 2025 when he volunteered to testify before the subcommittee about his personal experience responding to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the perspectives of rank-and-file officers who depend on FirstNet daily. When he did not receive an invitation to testify, the organization submitted written testimony and letters for the record, including a July 2025 joint statement with the International Association of Fire Fighters.
In December 2025, the FOP submitted a letter opposing provisions in H.R. 1519, the “Public Safety Communications Act,” arguing that adding an Office of Public Safety Communications within NTIA would create unnecessary bureaucratic barriers. “There are real consequences to America’s law enforcement officers and other first responders if FirstNet is subject to administrative or bureaucratic delays that prevent it from making timely investments in network improvements or technological innovations,” Yoes wrote.
When the FOP received draft text of the reauthorization bill in January 2026, the organization sent a formal letter one week before the subcommittee markup urging swift reauthorization while highlighting concerns about provisions that could hinder FirstNet’s operational effectiveness. The letter explicitly encouraged a “clean reauthorization” that would eliminate the sunset clause and limit changes to those proven to strengthen the network.
However, according to Yoes, the FOP was not included in a separate series of meetings initiated by the International Association of Fire Chiefs and other organizations in early February, just days before the markup. “I assume this was an oversight and not by design, as your staff has otherwise been very communicative on this issue,” Yoes wrote.
The FOP was not copied on February 9 emails from the IAFC thanking the committee for those meetings, nor on subsequent March 6 and 11 exchanges that produced “version 2” of H.R. 7386. On March 17, committee staff shared an amendment reflecting changes, the first revised language the FOP had seen since February.
When the FOP requested the latest text on March 23, staff promptly provided it, and the organization responded the same day with a formal letter outlining continued concerns about governance provisions and renewing its call for a clean reauthorization. Similar letters were submitted by the Kentucky and North Carolina State FOP Lodges.
“Apart from your staff acknowledging receipt of our letter, and those from the Kentucky and North Carolina State Lodges, we received no substantive feedback on our position,” Yoes wrote. “In fact, to the best of my knowledge, the letter from the North Carolina State FOP Lodge went completely unacknowledged by you. I found this disappointing, particularly in light of your remarks at the hearing that the FOP did not ‘come to the table’ to discuss the bill when we had been very much engaged with you and your staff for months.”
Yoes respectfully asked Hudson to retract the statement that the FOP “rebuffed” outreach, stating the characterization “does not align with the extensive record of our communications.”
Officer Safety vs. Oversight
The FOP’s opposition to certain bill provisions centers on what Yoes describes as unnecessary layers of bureaucracy that could compromise officer safety. “Officer safety is not well served by adding additional layers of bureaucracy to an already effective network,” he wrote. “FirstNet was created to give first responders the dedicated, reliable broadband they need in the most dangerous moments of their service.”
The organization argues that existing oversight mechanisms are sufficient to ensure accountability while preserving the agility officers require. “Additional prescriptive requirements risk slowing decision-making, creating operational friction, and ultimately undermining the very safety protections our members depend upon when they respond to active shooters, natural disasters, or routine calls for service,” Yoes stated.
The original FirstNet legislation established that public safety personnel should control their network and make decisions about operations and improvements. The FOP contends that increased NTIA oversight could prevent timely investments in network improvements or technological innovations, decisions that directly affect officers whose lives depend on reliable communications.
Support Across Public Safety Community
Despite the FOP’s reservations about specific governance provisions, other major public safety organizations including the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and APCO International have expressed support for the reauthorization legislation. The bill passed both committee and full House votes without opposition.
The legislation also comes as AT&T agreed last month to provide an additional $2 billion for FirstNet, though the company’s contract has not yet been officially amended. Half of that amount would come from AT&T reducing network-related fees by $1 billion to be reinvested in the network, plus an additional $1 billion investment from the carrier.
FirstNet currently serves approximately 8 million connections across nearly 30,600 public safety agencies, covering nearly 3 million square miles. For a comprehensive look at the history of FirstNet, read our earlier article, “The FirstNet Reauthorization Debate: Independence vs Oversight.”
What’s Next
The bill now moves to the Senate, where lawmakers have also expressed interest in FirstNet oversight. During a January 2026 hearing, senators signaled support for increased accountability measures.
Representative McClellan said Monday that the bill would ensure FirstNet “remains responsive, effective, and worthy of the trust placed in it by first responders.”
The FOP, representing 382,000 law enforcement officers nationwide, has made clear it will continue advocating for what it views as essential protections. “This is one of our top legislative priorities, and we stand ready to work constructively with you and your staff to achieve our shared goal of officer safety through a strong, unencumbered FirstNet,” Yoes concluded in his letter to Chairman Hudson.
With the February 2027 sunset deadline approaching, the Senate will need to act in the coming months to ensure continuity of the nation’s dedicated public safety broadband network.