The Commerce Department’s inspector general has commenced a year-long audit to assess how the First Responder Network Authority oversees the development of a national public safety broadband network through a contract awarded to AT&T, Reuters reported Friday.AT&T secured a potential $6.5 billion contract in March 2017 to build and operate the national network designed to free up bandwidth for emergency responders through pre-emptive and priority access to network.
Carol Rice, assistant inspector general for audit and evaluation, said in a May 3 memo the audit seeks to evaluate if FirstNet “properly administered†a task order for the network’s implementation, maintenance and operation.
AT&T officials and the government told Reuters the audit was a routine procedure and that the FirstNet’s core is now operational in all U.S. states.
