Emergency Communications

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are removing regulations related to the 911 Grant Program because the program is no longer active and there have been no new appropriations to revive or extend it. This removal is intended to eliminate obsolete regulatory language, ensure that the Code of Federal Regulations is accurate and up-to-date, and minimize the risk of confusion regarding the availability of grant funds. The rule is effective October 6, 2026.

The FirstNet Authority allocated $1.1 billion of its fiscal 2027 budget, which starts October 2026, for network improvements and approved 220 new cell sites in rural areas for AT&T to build based on public safety input. There are now 350 FirstNet sites in development.

Researchers from Pennsylvania State University recently published an excellent report, Beyond Connectivity Among Rural First Responders in Pennsylvania. The report is based on the findings from focus groups and interviews with law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, 911 center representatives, local officials, and other key stakeholders. The in-depth discussions identified multiple problems that hinder public safety work in rural areas:

The Federal Communications Commission approved a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeking comment on how the agency can best adapt its approach to the changing communications landscape and apply these objectives to the next generation of communications technologies and platforms. The FCC invites stakeholders to look beyond today's 911 system, consider how new technologies and services could reshape 911, and provide input on how the FCC can best adapt its approach to meet public safety needs and consumer expectations in the years ahead.

AT&T, in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, added a new 5G cell site in Brantley County (GA) as a direct result of state and local public safety feedback, boosting wireless connectivity for first responders on 

The North Carolina Department of Information Technology announced a $1 million notice of funding opportunity for the Broadband Satellite Resiliency Grant program designed to strengthen local resiliency and provide high-speed internet redundancy for public and community institutions serving North Carolinians.

This report details the experiences of rural first responders in Pennsylvania working with information communication technologies (ICTs) and digital networks. Through a series of focus groups and interviews with law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical service providers, and 911 center representatives, along with county officials and other local stakeholders, we explore the challenges and opportunities brought by digital communication technologies for the work of rural first responders.

Twenty-five years ago, our nation experienced the deadliest terrorist attack in our history. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost on Sept. 11, 2001. Like all Americans, I will never forget where I was and what I was doing that day.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the items below are tentatively on the agenda for the September Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026:

On July 30, 2025, Arielle Roth was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and National Telecommunications and Information Administrator. Over the past year, NTIA has moved with urgency to deliver results for Americans: ensuring universal broadband availability, freeing spectrum for commercial innovation, advancing American technology leadership, strengthening public safety communications, and demanding greater accountability for taxpayers.