WASHINGTON, D.C., (June 25, 2024) – The Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI) has submitted a new filing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) highlighting the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) recent report on the FirstNet Authority. The report, titled “FirstNet Authority’s Lack of Contract Oversight for Device Connection Targets Puts the NPSBN at Risk of Impacting First Responders’ Use of the Network,” outlines significant oversight failures by FirstNet Authority regarding AT&T’s compliance with device connection targets for public safety users.

The OIG report concludes that “FirstNet Authority does not have reasonable assurance that the data AT&T is reporting is accurate and reliable to support the primary program objectives of public safety adoption and use of the network.” This finding underscores a critical failure of FirstNet to fulfill one of its fundamental responsibilities. Additionally, the OIG describes FirstNet’s response to these findings as “inaccurate and misleading.”

This recent report follows other OIG findings that reveal multiple oversight and compliance failures by FirstNet. For instance, last month, the OIG issued a report on FirstNet’s network coverage, criticizing the adequacy of the current signal strength and its failure to meet the high-performance requirements stipulated in the contract with AT&T.

In its filing, CERCI noted that while the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) agrees with the OIG’s recommendations and urges FirstNet to take corrective actions, the OIG expresses deep concerns about FirstNet’s intent and willingness to implement these changes. The report states, “Based on FirstNet Authority’s comment concerning its allegedly rigorous quality assurance and control activities, we have serious concerns that FirstNet Authority will not resolve the issues we identified in this report or take the necessary actions to improve internal controls.”

CERCI asserts that the FCC should conclude that FirstNet needs to recommit to its statutory responsibilities and core mission of overseeing the National Public Safety Broadband Network. It further states that allocating the 4.9 GHz band to FirstNet, only for it to be shared with AT&T’s commercial users, would not only be unlawful and unwise but also distract from FirstNet’s essential duties.

To learn more about the CERCI and read the full letter to the FCC, please visit responsecoalition.com.

CONTACT: Jo Maney (jmaney@bgrpr.com)

ABOUT THE COALITION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI) is committed to maintaining local control of vital 4.9 GHz public-safety spectrum and working with the FCC to promote innovative usage of the band including non-interfering critical infrastructure uses. The founding members of the CERCI are Competitive Carriers Association, Edison Electric Institute (EEI), Major Cities Chiefs Association, National Sheriffs Association, T-Mobile, Verizon, and UScellular. Additional members include the California State Sheriffs’ Association, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and the Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies.