FirstNet under fire as Congress moves for more oversight

As Congress debates the reauthorization of the First Responder Network Authority, Verizon hopes to convince lawmakers that new legislation should enshrine competition and extend federal funding benefits to all public safety workers, not just AT&T customers. FirstNet's authorization expires in February 2027. Initial hearings in the House and Senate over the last week showed broad support for FirstNet reauthorization with stronger oversight but also raised questions about whether further changes to the law were needed. Verizon wants Congress's reauthorization to protect competition and ensure the FirstNet Authority does not promote AT&T's network as the only solution, according to written and oral testimony in a Senate hearing last week. Its own Frontline service and T-Mobile's T-Priority offer similar cellular broadband capabilities for first responders, and the operator claimed more than half choose a service other than FirstNet.