Reports

We have revised the objective for this evaluation from its original announcement in January 2026. Our revised objective is to assess whether FirstNet Authority provides effective oversight to ensure the NPSBN contractor meets contractual cybersecurity requirements.

This announcement memo initiates an evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the Department’s information security program and practices and compliance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014.

Our audit found that FirstNet Authority has not ensured that only eligible users have access to the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network for first responders.

Our audit found that FirstNet Authority did not ensure that the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network met service availability requirements. Without consistent service availability, public safety users may not be able to communicate or obtain information quickly to make timely mission-critical decisions.

Investigation into Allegations That FirstNet Authority Senior Officials Interfered with OIG Audits

Investigation into Allegations of Whistleblower Retaliation by a Senior FirstNet Authority Official

Our audit found that FirstNet Authority did not ensure that timely, adequate NPSBN services were provided to support public safety’s response to the wildfires that swept through Maui in 2023. FirstNet Authority also did not ensure that a sufficient plan for business continuity and disaster recovery was developed before the wildfires or that service restoration activities were accurately reported.

This management alert reports that the February 22, 2024 outage of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network and subsequent lack of communication and transparency regarding network performance put public safety at jeopardy and posed a risk to the readiness of first responders across the country.

Our audit found that FirstNet Authority did not adequately assess contractor performance to ensure AT&T achieved the desired results for device connections targets for each state and territory.

Our audit found that FirstNet Authority did not adequately assess AT&T’s performance to ensure that it met the desired results for coverage in each state and territory.

Our audit found that FirstNet Authority did not consistently adhere to federal and departmental regulations or demonstrate it received adequate value in return when it changed Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) contract requirements, putting the NPSBN program at risk of failing to meet the needs of our nation’s first responders.