A U.S. Senate panel on Wednesday examined the need for reforms to the national first responder network and whether AT&T’s 25-year exclusive contract providing coverage to emergency personnel should be reopened to competition, as the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) approaches the end of its legal mandate.

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) convened the hearing to evaluate calls for changes to FirstNet, which operates under the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within the Commerce Department. While local officials broadly support the network, critics and lawmakers have questioned whether AT&T should remain the sole provider once FirstNet’s authority expires in just over a year.

Concerns have intensified following internal audits that flagged potential whistleblower retaliation within the FirstNet Authority, as well as a 2024 inspector general report on a network outage in February of that year. Fischer emphasized that while FirstNet and AT&T have largely succeeded in providing critical communications to first responders, enhanced oversight and accountability are essential. “The network has become a communications lifeline,” Fischer said, urging Congress to act before February 2027 to ensure uninterrupted service for public safety agencies.

Other senators, including the panel’s ranking Democrat, Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), echoed calls for timely reauthorization. Fischer cautioned that while oversight is necessary, failing to secure the network’s future could undermine years of investment and erode trust with emergency personnel.

FirstNet board acting chair Sheriff Michael Adkinson Jr. of Walton County, Florida, testified in support of minor board changes, including increasing public safety representation from three to five seats to improve accountability. “Interoperable communications are critical,” Adkinson said. “This network ensures that first responders can communicate effectively in emergencies, and reauthorization is key to maintaining that capability.”

AT&T also appeared at the hearing, with Scott Agnew, president of FirstNet and public safety mobility at AT&T, urging lawmakers to act promptly to renew the contract. “Congress made a bold decision to enhance public safety through a dedicated national network,” Agnew said. He stressed that swift action would prevent service interruptions and maintain the network’s effectiveness.

However, AT&T’s competitors, including Verizon, pressed Congress to consider alternatives. Cory Davis, vice president of Verizon Frontline, testified alongside representatives from FirstNet, AT&T, and APCO International. He argued that ensuring public safety communications are reliable, secure, and interoperable requires fair competition and innovation. “A competitive marketplace ensures the public benefits from reliable service, rather than concentrating control with a single provider,” Davis said.

The hearing highlighted the balance lawmakers must strike between maintaining uninterrupted service for emergency personnel and encouraging competition to improve efficiency, coverage, and innovation. Congress is expected to weigh potential reforms and reauthorization proposals over the coming months.