Bill Overview
Title: To amend the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority.
Description: This bill repeals provisions terminating the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and the Government Accountability Office reporting requirement for such termination. The FirstNet mission is to deploy, operate, maintain, and improve the first high-speed, nationwide wireless broadband network for first responders.
Sponsors: Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10]
Target Audience
Population: First responders
Estimated Size: 2000000
- FirstNet is an initiative that impacts first responders, including firefighters, police, and emergency medical service personnel.
- FirstNet provides a dedicated network for public safety communications, which is crucial for first responders during emergencies.
- By reauthorizing FirstNet, the bill ensures continuous service enhancement for first responders, impacting their efficiency and safety.
- There are approximately 2 million first responders in the United States.
- FirstNet is a nationwide network, thus potentially impacting first responders globally if the model is adopted outside the US.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects first responders, who make up a significant portion of the population. With approximately 2 million first responders, the target population is quite large.
- The policy's budget of $500,000,000 in the first year is substantial but must be spread across the entire U.S. network, which means individual impact might vary significantly based on geographical region and existing infrastructure.
- First responders often face communication challenges during emergencies when regular communication networks are overloaded. FirstNet offers a dedicated network which could significantly improve their communication capabilities, thereby improving their operational efficiency and potentially their wellbeing.
- While the policy directly affects first responders, indirect effects might be felt by those in communities that rely on their services. Improved response times and enhanced communication during emergencies can lead to broader community safety and wellbeing effects.
- Diverse feedback from the target population can help understand varying levels of impact across different roles (firefighters, police, EMS) and geographical areas.
- By focusing on common first responder experiences, the interviews aim to reflect widespread sentiments, but there will also be room for those not directly impacted.
Simulated Interviews
Police Officer (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a dedicated network for communication is crucial. It sometimes gets very frustrating when communication is lost in the middle of an operation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Firefighter (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Over the years, communication has been a constant issue during large incidents. If this network can improve that, I'd fully support it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Emergency Medical Technician (Chicago, IL)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We often face delays due to communication breakdowns, especially during peak times. FirstNet sounds promising.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Paramedic (Dallas, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- During emergencies, a reliable communication line can be life-saving. We're taught how to handle communication failures, but ideally it shouldn't happen.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Firefighter (Rural Montana)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- In rural areas, we already face challenges with network reliability, having a dedicated network would be a huge help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Police Officer (Miami, FL)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our communication system is decent, but during major events, a dedicated network could definitely reduce some of the stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Paramedic (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that promises more reliability in communication is worth a shot. We've seen good and bad days based on how our systems hold up.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Firefighter (Small Town, Georgia)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's always been a struggle to communicate effectively during big incidents. If this can change that and help my successors, it's worth it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Police Officer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 33 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A reliable network is paramount for special operations. FirstNet could reduce a lot of the unpredictability we face.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Emergency Medical Technician (Boston, MA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Communication barriers during large events are common. This network might allow us to provide faster, more efficient care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $525000000 (Low: $420000000, High: $630000000)
Year 3: $551250000 (Low: $441000000, High: $661500000)
Year 5: $605156250 (Low: $484125000, High: $726187500)
Year 10: $781511250 (Low: $625209000, High: $937813500)
Year 100: $15164670272 (Low: $12131736218, High: $18197604326)
Key Considerations
- FirstNet is crucial for the safety and efficiency of over 2 million first responders in the U.S.
- The network needs continual technological updates to keep pace with modern communication advancements.
- There are potential economic benefits tied to improved disaster responses impacting local and federal budgets.
- Coordination with local and state governments and other stakeholders is crucial for the successful deployment and operation of FirstNet.