Public Safety Communications Act

This bill would create a new Office of Public Safety Communications inside the NTIA, a federal telecom agency. A career official would lead the office. It would run federal grants for Next Generation 9-1-1, study and advise on public‑safety communications policy, share policy guidance with other agencies and Congress, and oversee research, testing, and pilot projects for new emergency communication tools. The office would also manage the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and conduct yearly audits of its activities to ensure accountability. A summary also highlights the office’s role in supporting interoperable, IP‑based 9‑1‑1 systems and overseeing FirstNet for the emergency response community.

Key points

• Who is affected: 9‑1‑1 systems and call centers, police, fire, EMS, and the communities that rely on them.
• What changes: A single federal office would coordinate public‑safety communications; run Next Generation 9‑1‑1 grant programs; analyze and communicate policy; oversee studies, testing, and prototypes; manage FirstNet; and perform annual audits of FirstNet’s work.