FirstNet wakeup call: Public safety deserves better accountability

Published April 24, 2026 9:00am ET



In times of national crisis, communications are essential. Whether responding to a terrorist attack or a tragic natural disaster, first responders need a guaranteed method of connecting.

That’s why few initiatives sit more squarely at the intersection of national security and public safety than FirstNet, a dedicated communications network for U.S. first responders and public safety personnel managed by the U.S. government, created in the wake of 9/11. With lives on the line, the network must work all the time.

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