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Verizon says the deal will allow it to upgrade its fibre network in 25 states
Verizon has been given approval from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications, in part for agreeing to drop its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
In a letter to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, Verizon said it would eliminate DEI-focused roles, drop diversity targets from hiring plans, and remove DEI language from training, recruitment, and public messaging. The changes will also apply to Frontier following the close of the acquisition.
The move comes in a wider political and regulatory push in the US against corporate DEI frameworks, with government bodies and large firms under pressure to scale back such efforts. Major tech firms like Meta, Amazon, and Google have all rolled back their DEI programmes to align with the Trump administration.
The Frontier deal, which was announced in September last year, gives Verizon access to a major fibre footprint across the US, helping it reach an additional one million homes per year with broadband, including in hard-to-reach rural areas. The telco is aiming to strengthen its fibre business as competition ramps up in both fixed and mobile markets.
State-level approvals are still needed to close the deal. In Connecticut, regulators have given provisional support, with a final decision due next month. Verizon expects to complete the acquisition early next year.
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