A Senate subcommittee held a hearing Wednesday to evaluate FirstNet, the nationwide communications network designed specifically for first responders. The hearing focused on whether the network should be reauthorized before it expires on February 27, 2027.
FirstNet was established by Congress following the communications failures during the September 11 attacks. According to Fierce Network, AT&T currently operates the network under a 25-year contract and holds exclusive use of 20 megahertz of 700 MHz spectrum designated for public safety.
During the hearing, Senator Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, stated that the subcommittee needed to evaluate FirstNet's progress and identify areas for improvement. AT&T testified that the network performed well during recent emergencies, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton, where it processed more than 260 emergency requests across multiple states when commercial networks were overwhelmed.
AT&T also noted FirstNet maintained service during the assassination attempt at a presidential campaign rally in Pennsylvania while commercial networks experienced congestion.
AT&T estimates it will invest approximately $40 billion of its own capital over the life of its contract to build and operate FirstNet. The company serves nearly 30,600 public safety agencies and direct-support organizations.
The company's commitment to emergency response has extended beyond the hearing room. According to AT&T's disaster relief updates, the FirstNet Response Operations Group has responded to more than 20 support requests from public safety during Winter Storm Fern. AT&T's Network Disaster Recovery team has been actively working in hard-hit areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, deploying portable generators and refueling fixed generators to keep major network facilities online while communities recover.
During questioning, lawmakers explored whether first responders could use a single device across multiple carriers. AT&T's president for FirstNet confirmed that phones can be configured with multiple SIM cards or routers, allowing access to different networks simultaneously. Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr., acting board chair of the FirstNet Authority, noted that many public safety organizations already use multiple lines based on their operational needs.
