H. R. 3630—51 
to the Assistant Secretary to make grants in such sums as necessary 
to cover relocation costs for the relocation of public safety entities 
from the T-Band spectrum. 
(c) RELOCATION.—Relocation shall be completed not later than 
2 years after the date on which the system of competitive bidding 
described in subsection (a)(2) is completed. 
Subtitle B—Governance of Public Safety 
Spectrum 
SEC. 6201. SINGLE PUBLIC SAFETY WIRELESS NETWORK LICENSEE. 
(a) REALLOCATION AND GRANT OF LICENSE.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, and subject to the provisions of this 
Act, the Commission shall reallocate and grant a license to the 
First Responder Network Authority for the use of the 700 MHz 
D block spectrum and existing public safety broadband spectrum. 
(b) TERM OF LICENSE.— 
(1) INITIAL LICENSE.—The license granted under subsection 
(a) shall be for an initial term of 10 years from the date 
of the initial issuance of the license. 
(2) RENEWAL OF LICENSE.—Prior to expiration of the term 
of the initial license granted under subsection (a) or the expira-
tion of any subsequent renewal of such license, the First 
Responder Network Authority shall submit to the Commission 
an application for the renewal of such license. Such renewal 
application shall demonstrate that, during the preceding license 
term, the First Responder Network Authority has met the 
duties and obligations set forth under this Act. A renewal 
license granted under this paragraph shall be for a term of 
not to exceed 10 years. 
(c) FACILITATION OF TRANSITION.—The Commission shall take 
all actions necessary to facilitate the transition of the existing 
public safety broadband spectrum to the First Responder Network 
Authority. 
SEC. 6202. PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND NETWORK. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The First Responder Network Authority 
shall ensure the establishment of a nationwide, interoperable public 
safety broadband network. 
(b) NETWORK
COMPONENTS.—The nationwide public safety 
broadband network shall be based on a single, national network 
architecture that evolves with technological advancements and ini-
tially consists of— 
(1) a core network that— 
(A) consists of national and regional data centers, and 
other elements and functions that may be distributed geo-
graphically, all of which shall be based on commercial 
standards; and 
(B) provides the connectivity between— 
(i) the radio access network; and 
(ii) the public Internet or the public switched net-
work, or both; and 
(2) a radio access network that— 
(A) consists of all cell site equipment, antennas, and 
backhaul equipment, based on commercial standards, that
H. R. 3630—52 
are required to enable wireless communications with 
devices using the public safety broadband spectrum; and 
(B) shall be developed, constructed, managed, main-
tained, and operated taking into account the plans devel-
oped in the State, local, and tribal planning and 
implementation grant program under section 6302(a). 
SEC. 6203. PUBLIC SAFETY INTEROPERABILITY BOARD. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within the Commis-
sion an advisory board to be known as the ‘‘Technical Advisory 
Board for First Responder Interoperability’’. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) VOTING MEMBERS.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of enactment of this title, the Chairman of the 
Commission shall appoint 14 voting members to the Inter-
operability Board, of which— 
(i) 4 members shall be representatives of wireless 
providers, of which— 
(I) 2 members shall be representatives of 
national wireless providers; 
(II) 1 member shall be a representative of 
regional wireless providers; and 
(III) 1 member shall be a representative of 
rural wireless providers; 
(ii) 3 members shall be representatives of equip-
ment manufacturers; 
(iii) 4 members shall be representatives of public 
safety entities, of which— 
(I) not less than 1 member shall be a rep-
resentative of management level employees of 
public safety entities; and 
(II) not less than 1 member shall be a rep-
resentative of employees of public safety entities; 
(iv) 3 members shall be representatives of State 
and local governments, chosen to reflect geographic 
and population density differences across the United 
States; and 
(v) all members shall have specific expertise nec-
essary to developing technical requirements under this 
section, such as technical expertise, public safety 
communications expertise, and commercial network 
experience. 
(B) NON-VOTING
MEMBER.—The Assistant Secretary 
shall appoint 1 non-voting member to the Interoperability 
Board. 
(2) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), members of the Interoperability Board shall be 
appointed for the life of the Interoperability Board. 
(B) REMOVAL FOR CAUSE.—A member of the Interoper-
ability Board may be removed for cause upon the deter-
mination of the Chairman of the Commission. 
(3) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Interoperability Board 
shall not affect the powers of the Interoperability Board, and 
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
H. R. 3630—53 
(4) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The Interoper-
ability Board shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson 
from among the members of the Interoperability Board. 
(5) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the Interoper-
ability Board shall constitute a quorum. 
(c) DUTIES OF THE INTEROPERABILITY BOARD.— 
(1) DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Interoperability Board, in consultation with the NTIA, NIST, 
and the Office of Emergency Communications of the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security, shall— 
(A) develop recommended minimum technical require-
ments to ensure a nationwide level of interoperability for 
the nationwide public safety broadband network; and 
(B) submit to the Commission for review in accordance 
with paragraph (3) recommended minimum technical 
requirements described in subparagraph (A). 
(2) CONSIDERATION.—In developing recommended min-
imum technical requirements under paragraph (1), the Inter-
operability Board shall base the recommended minimum tech-
nical requirements on the commercial standards for Long Term 
Evolution (LTE) service. 
(3) APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date on which the Interoperability Board submits rec-
ommended minimum technical requirements under para-
graph (1)(B), the Commission shall approve the rec-
ommendations, with any revisions it deems necessary, and 
transmit such recommendations to the First Responder 
Network Authority. 
(B) REVIEW.—Any actions taken under subparagraph 
(A) shall not be reviewable as a final agency action. 
(d) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Interoperability 
Board shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, 
while away from their homes or regular places of business in 
the performance of services for the Interoperability Board. 
(e) EXEMPTION FROM FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Interoperability Board. 
(f) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—The Interoperability Board 
shall terminate 15 days after the date on which the Commission 
transmits the recommendations to the First Responder Network 
Authority under subsection (c)(3)(A). 
SEC. 6204. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK 
AUTHORITY. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established as an independent 
authority within the NTIA the ‘‘First Responder Network Authority’’ 
or ‘‘FirstNet’’. 
(b) BOARD.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The First Responder Network Authority 
shall be headed by a Board, which shall consist of— 
(A) the Secretary of Homeland Security; 
(B) the Attorney General of the United States; 
(C) the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget; and
H. R. 3630—54 
(D) 12 individuals appointed by the Secretary of Com-
merce in accordance with paragraph (2). 
(2) APPOINTMENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In making appointments under para-
graph (1)(D), the Secretary of Commerce shall— 
(i) appoint not fewer than 3 individuals to rep-
resent the collective interests of the States, localities, 
tribes, and territories; 
(ii) seek to ensure geographic and regional rep-
resentation of the United States in such appointments; 
(iii) seek to ensure rural and urban representation 
in such appointments; and 
(iv) appoint not fewer than 3 individuals who have 
served as public safety professionals. 
(B) REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Each member appointed under 
paragraph (1)(D) should meet not less than 1 of the 
following criteria: 
(I) PUBLIC
SAFETY
EXPERIENCE.—Knowledge 
and experience in the use of Federal, State, local, 
or tribal public safety or emergency response. 
(II) TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.—Technical exper-
tise and fluency regarding broadband communica-
tions, including public safety communications. 
(III) 
NETWORK
EXPERTISE.—Expertise 
in 
building, deploying, and operating commercial tele-
communications networks. 
(IV) 
FINANCIAL
EXPERTISE.—Expertise 
in 
financing and funding telecommunications net-
works. 
(ii) EXPERTISE
TO
BE
REPRESENTED.—In making 
appointments under paragraph (1)(D), the Secretary 
of Commerce shall appoint— 
(I) not fewer than 1 individual who satisfies 
the requirement under subclause (II) of clause (i); 
(II) not fewer than 1 individual who satisfies 
the requirement under subclause (III) of clause 
(i); and 
(III) not fewer than 1 individual who satisfies 
the requirement under subclause (IV) of clause 
(i). 
(C) CITIZENSHIP.—No individual other than a citizen 
of the United States may serve as a member of the Board. 
(c) TERMS OF APPOINTMENT.— 
(1) INITIAL APPOINTMENT DEADLINE.—Members of the Board 
shall be appointed not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this title. 
(2) TERMS.— 
(A) LENGTH.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—Each member of the Board 
described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of sub-
section (b)(1) shall serve as a member of the Board 
for the life of the First Responder Network Authority. 
(ii) APPOINTED INDIVIDUALS.—The term of office 
of each individual appointed to be a member of the 
Board under subsection (b)(1)(D) shall be 3 years. No
H. R. 3630—55 
member described in this clause may serve more than 
2 consecutive full 3-year terms. 
(B) EXPIRATION OF TERM.—Any member whose term 
has expired may serve until such member’s successor has 
taken office, or until the end of the calendar year in which 
such member’s term has expired, whichever is earlier. 
(C) APPOINTMENT
TO
FILL
VACANCY.—Any member 
appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration 
of the term for which that member’s predecessor was 
appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of the 
predecessor’s term. 
(D) STAGGERED
TERMS.—With respect to the initial 
members of the Board appointed under subsection 
(b)(1)(D)— 
(i) 4 members shall serve for a term of 3 years; 
(ii) 4 members shall serve for a term of 2 years; 
and 
(iii) 4 members shall serve for a term of 1 year. 
(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the membership of the Board 
shall not affect the Board’s powers, and shall be filled in the 
same manner as the original member was appointed. 
(d) CHAIR.— 
(1) SELECTION.—The Secretary of Commerce shall select, 
from among the members of the Board appointed under sub-
section (b)(1)(D), an individual to serve for a 2-year term as 
Chair of the Board. 
(2) CONSECUTIVE TERMS.—An individual may not serve for 
more than 2 consecutive terms as Chair of the Board. 
(e) MEETINGS.— 
(1) FREQUENCY.—The Board shall meet— 
(A) at the call of the Chair; and 
(B) not less frequently than once each quarter. 
(2) TRANSPARENCY.—Meetings of the Board, including any 
committee of the Board, shall be open to the public. The Board 
may, by majority vote, close any such meeting only for the 
time necessary to preserve the confidentiality of commercial 
or financial information that is privileged or confidential, to 
discuss personnel matters, or to discuss legal matters affecting 
the First Responder Network Authority, including pending or 
potential litigation. 
(f) QUORUM.—Eight members of the Board shall constitute a 
quorum, including at least 6 of the members appointed under sub-
section (b)(1)(D). 
(g) COMPENSATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The members of the Board appointed 
under subsection (b)(1)(D) shall be compensated at the daily 
rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule for 
each day during which such members are engaged in per-
forming a function of the Board. 
(2) PROHIBITION
ON
COMPENSATION.—A member of the 
Board appointed under subparagraphs (A) through (C) of sub-
section (b)(1) shall serve without additional pay, and shall 
not otherwise benefit, directly or indirectly, as a result of their 
service to the First Responder Network Authority, but shall 
be allowed a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates 
authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter 
I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away
H. R. 3630—56 
from the home or regular place of business of the member 
in the performance of the duties of the First Responder Network 
Authority. 
SEC. 6205. ADVISORY COMMITTEES OF THE FIRST RESPONDER NET-
WORK AUTHORITY. 
(a) ADVISORY COMMITTEES.—The First Responder Network 
Authority— 
(1) shall establish a standing public safety advisory com-
mittee to assist the First Responder Network Authority in 
carrying out its duties and responsibilities under this subtitle; 
and 
(2) may establish additional standing or ad hoc committees, 
panels, or councils as the First Responder Network Authority 
determines are necessary. 
(b) SELECTION OF AGENTS, CONSULTANTS, AND EXPERTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The First Responder Network Authority 
shall select parties to serve as its agents, consultants, or experts 
in a fair, transparent, and objective manner, and such agents 
may include a program manager to carry out certain of the 
duties and responsibilities of deploying and operating the 
nationwide public safety broadband network described in sub-
sections (b) and (c) of section 6206. 
(2) BINDING
AND
FINAL.—If the selection of an agent, 
consultant, or expert satisfies the requirements under para-
graph (1), the selection of that agent, consultant, or expert 
shall be final and binding. 
SEC. 6206. POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRST 
RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY. 
(a) GENERAL POWERS.—The First Responder Network Authority 
shall have the authority to do the following: 
(1) To exercise, through the actions of its Board, all powers 
specifically granted by the provisions of this subtitle, and such 
incidental powers as shall be necessary. 
(2) To hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and 
places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the 
First Responder Network Authority considers necessary to carry 
out its responsibilities and duties. 
(3) To obtain grants and funds from and make contracts 
with individuals, private companies, organizations, institutions, 
and Federal, State, regional, and local agencies. 
(4) To accept, hold, administer, and utilize gifts, donations, 
and bequests of property, both real and personal, for the pur-
poses of aiding or facilitating the work of the First Responder 
Network Authority. 
(5) To spend funds under paragraph (3) in a manner author-
ized by the Board, but only for purposes that will advance 
or enhance public safety communications consistent with this 
title. 
(6) To take such other actions as the First Responder 
Network Authority (through the Board) may from time to time 
determine necessary, appropriate, or advisable to accomplish 
the purposes of this title. 
(b) DUTY
AND RESPONSIBILITY
TO DEPLOY
AND OPERATE
A 
NATIONWIDE PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND NETWORK.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The First Responder Network Authority 
shall hold the single public safety wireless license granted
H. R. 3630—57 
under section 6201 and take all actions necessary to ensure 
the building, deployment, and operation of the nationwide 
public safety broadband network, in consultation with Federal, 
State, tribal, and local public safety entities, the Director of 
NIST, the Commission, and the public safety advisory com-
mittee established in section 6205(a), including by, at a min-
imum— 
(A) ensuring nationwide standards for use and access 
of the network; 
(B) issuing open, transparent, and competitive requests 
for proposals to private sector entities for the purposes 
of building, operating, and maintaining the network that 
use, without materially changing, the minimum technical 
requirements developed under section 6203; 
(C) encouraging that such requests leverage, to the 
maximum extent economically desirable, existing commer-
cial wireless infrastructure to speed deployment of the 
network; and 
(D) managing and overseeing the implementation and 
execution of contracts or agreements with non-Federal enti-
ties to build, operate, and maintain the network. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the duties and respon-
sibilities of this subsection, including issuing requests for pro-
posals, the First Responder Network Authority shall— 
(A) ensure the safety, security, and resiliency of the 
network, including requirements for protecting and moni-
toring the network to protect against cyberattack; 
(B) promote competition in the equipment market, 
including devices for public safety communications, by 
requiring that equipment for use on the network be— 
(i) built to open, non-proprietary, commercially 
available standards; 
(ii) capable of being used by any public safety 
entity and by multiple vendors across all public safety 
broadband networks operating in the 700 MHz band; 
and 
(iii) backward-compatible with existing commercial 
networks to the extent that such capabilities are nec-
essary and technically and economically reasonable; 
(C) promote integration of the network with public 
safety answering points or their equivalent; and 
(D) address special considerations for areas or regions 
with unique homeland security or national security needs. 
(3) RURAL
COVERAGE.—In carrying out the duties and 
responsibilities of this subsection, including issuing requests 
for proposals, the nationwide, interoperable public safety 
broadband network, consistent with the license granted under 
section 6201, shall require deployment phases with substantial 
rural coverage milestones as part of each phase of the construc-
tion and deployment of the network. To the maximum extent 
economically desirable, such proposals shall include partner-
ships with existing commercial mobile providers to utilize cost- 
effective opportunities to speed deployment in rural areas. 
(4) EXECUTION OF AUTHORITY.—In carrying out the duties 
and responsibilities of this subsection, the First Responder 
Network Authority may—
H. R. 3630—58 
(A) obtain grants from and make contracts with 
individuals, 
private 
companies, 
and 
Federal, 
State, 
regional, and local agencies; 
(B) hire or accept voluntary services of consultants, 
experts, advisory boards, and panels to aid the First 
Responder Network Authority in carrying out such duties 
and responsibilities; 
(C) receive payment for use of— 
(i) 
network 
capacity 
licensed 
to 
the 
First 
Responder Network Authority; and 
(ii) network infrastructure constructed, owned, or 
operated by the First Responder Network Authority; 
and 
(D) take such other actions as may be necessary to 
accomplish the purposes set forth in this subsection. 
(c) OTHER SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF NETWORK POLICIES.—In carrying out 
the requirements under subsection (b), the First Responder 
Network Authority shall develop— 
(A) requests for proposals with appropriate— 
(i) timetables for construction, including by taking 
into consideration the time needed to build out to 
rural areas and the advantages offered through part-
nerships with existing commercial providers under 
paragraph (3); 
(ii) coverage areas, including coverage in rural and 
nonurban areas; 
(iii) service levels; 
(iv) performance criteria; and 
(v) other similar matters for the construction and 
deployment of such network; 
(B) the technical and operational requirements of the 
network; 
(C) practices, procedures, and standards for the 
management and operation of such network; 
(D) terms of service for the use of such network, 
including billing practices; and 
(E) ongoing compliance review and monitoring of the— 
(i) management and operation of such network; 
(ii) practices and procedures of the entities oper-
ating on and the personnel using such network; and 
(iii) necessary training needs of network operators 
and users. 
(2) STATE AND LOCAL PLANNING.— 
(A) REQUIRED CONSULTATION.—In developing requests 
for proposals and otherwise carrying out its responsibilities 
under this Act, the First Responder Network Authority 
shall consult with regional, State, tribal, and local jurisdic-
tions regarding the distribution and expenditure of any 
amounts required to carry out the policies established 
under paragraph (1), including with regard to the— 
(i) construction of a core network and any radio 
access network build out; 
(ii) placement of towers; 
(iii) coverage areas of the network, whether at 
the regional, State, tribal, or local level;
H. R. 3630—59 
(iv) adequacy of hardening, security, reliability, 
and resiliency requirements; 
(v) assignment of priority to local users; 
(vi) assignment of priority and selection of entities 
seeking access to or use of the nationwide public safety 
interoperable broadband network established under 
subsection (b); and 
(vii) training needs of local users. 
(B) METHOD
OF
CONSULTATION.—The consultation 
required under subparagraph (A) shall occur between the 
First Responder Network Authority and the single officer 
or governmental body designated under section 6302(d). 
(3) LEVERAGING
EXISTING
INFRASTRUCTURE.—In carrying 
out the requirement under subsection (b), the First Responder 
Network Authority shall enter into agreements to utilize, to 
the maximum extent economically desirable, existing— 
(A) commercial or other communications infrastruc-
ture; and 
(B) Federal, State, tribal, or local infrastructure. 
(4) MAINTENANCE
AND
UPGRADES.—The First Responder 
Network Authority shall ensure the maintenance, operation, 
and improvement of the nationwide public safety broadband 
network, including by ensuring that the First Responder Net-
work Authority updates and revises any policies established 
under paragraph (1) to take into account new and evolving 
technologies. 
(5) ROAMING AGREEMENTS.—The First Responder Network 
Authority shall negotiate and enter into, as it determines appro-
priate, roaming agreements with commercial network providers 
to allow the nationwide public safety broadband network to 
roam onto commercial networks and gain prioritization of public 
safety communications over such networks in times of an emer-
gency. 
(6) NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVICE CRITERIA.—The 
Director of NIST, in consultation with the First Responder 
Network Authority and the Commission, shall ensure the 
development of a list of certified devices and components 
meeting appropriate protocols and standards for public safety 
entities and commercial vendors to adhere to, if such entities 
or vendors seek to have access to, use of, or compatibility 
with the nationwide public safety broadband network. 
(7) REPRESENTATION BEFORE STANDARD SETTING ENTITIES.— 
The First Responder Network Authority, in consultation with 
the Director of NIST, the Commission, and the public safety 
advisory committee established under section 6205(a), shall 
represent the interests of public safety users of the nationwide 
public safety broadband network before any proceeding, nego-
tiation, or other matter in which a standards organization, 
standards body, standards development organization, or any 
other recognized standards-setting entity addresses the develop-
ment of standards relating to interoperability. 
(8) PROHIBITION ON NEGOTIATION WITH FOREIGN GOVERN-
MENTS.—The First Responder Network Authority shall not have 
the authority to negotiate or enter into any agreements with 
a foreign government on behalf of the United States.