My coverage is bigger than yours: Verizon spats with AT&T over the FirstNet responders' network [telecom]

Back in 2017, AT&T won a quarter-century contract from FirstNet to roll out and maintain a dedicated LTE network that will exclusively serve the communication needs of "first responders" like police officers, firefighters, emergency medical and other services throughout the United States' 56 states and territories.

This first responders network has been a long time coming, ever since the 9/11 communications kerfuffle forced the government to set aside

700 MHz band 14 spectrum and a couple of billions to build a nationwide emergency platform, and awarded the goods to AT&T last year. Verizon's current emergency network offering, however, will also be upgraded for better performance, and a VP was quick to remind everyone that "...we're already working with our public-safety customers to build the solutions they need" and Verizon has 400,000 square miles more territory covered than AT&T. Bazinga!