WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet, will convene the panel for a hearing titled, “FirstNet Oversight: An Update on the Status of the Public Safety Broadband Network” on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 9:30 a.m.

At the urging of the public safety community, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 created FirstNet, an organization designed to serve as an “independent authority” in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and to “provide emergency responders with the first nationwide, high-speed network dedicated to public safety." As highlighted by the tragedy of 9/11, the reliance by first responders on separate networks has made communications among public safety professionals problematic during emergencies.

The subcommittee’s hearing will focus on the progress made since the Committee last held an oversight hearing in March 2015. In particular, the hearing will examine FirstNet’s progress in meeting benchmarks; the cost of deployment, particularly in rural areas; and the public safety broadband network’s plans to become a self-funding entity.

Witnesses:

Mr. Michael Poth, Chief Executive Officer, FirstNet

Mr. Jeffrey McLeod,  Director of Homeland Security and Public Safety Division, National Governors Association 

Major General Arthur J. Logan, Single Point of Contact (SPOC), State of Hawaii, and Hawaii Adjutant General

Mr. Andrew Katsaros, Assistant Inspector General for Audit, U.S. Department of Commerce

* Witness list subject to change

Hearing Details:

Tuesday, June 21, 2016 9:30 a.m. ET Communications Subcommittee Hearing Senate Russell Building 253

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