GAO Releases Report on First Responder Network

Press Release

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report today titled the "Public-Safety Broadband Network: FirstNet Should Strengthen Internal Controls and Evaluate Lessons Learned." The report was drafted by the request of then-Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who requested that GAO evaluate FirstNet efforts to establish a nationwide public safety wireless broadband network for first responders.

On March 11, 2015, Chairman Thune also held a hearing on FirstNet entitled, "Three Years Later: Are We Any Closer to a Nationwide Public Safety Wireless Broadband Network." Witnesses included FirstNet Chairwoman Sue Swenson and GAO Director Mark Goldstein, who testified to GAO's preliminary report findings.

Chairman Thune offered the following statement on the GAO report's findings:

"I commend GAO on its thorough examination of FirstNet's progress in building a public safety network. GAO found that while progress has been made, FirstNet is confronted with many challenges. As I stated at our committee's recent hearing, FirstNet should leverage the sizeable taxpayer investment in early builder projects by implementing a detailed data-analysis plan. FirstNet must also more fully assess the risks it faces as it builds a network that provides public safety officials with a network to serve all Americans."

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