House Schedules FirstNet Oversight Hearing

Sets March 14 to hear from industry and emergency net officials

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/5/2013 4:31:21 PM

The House Communications Subcommittee has scheduled a hearing, "Oversight of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and Emergency Communications," on March 14.

The hearing will look at the current status of the network, which was created by FCC broadcast incentive auction legislation and will be funded by the auctions.

Witnesses will come from both the private sector and FirstNet representatives.

"Last Congress we took concrete steps to improve emergency communications when we passed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act," said Subcommittee chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) in a statement. "This hearing will provide oversight to ensure that both public safety officials and the public have access to effective, open lines of communication during an emergency."