Verizon Communications has been given the green light from the FCC to merge with Frontier Communications after ending its DEI practices.
Verizon joins the growing list of companies, like Google and Pepsi, that have dropped their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in recent months. The changes paved the way for the telecommunications company to merge with Frontier Communications in a deal valued at $20 billion.
“By approving this deal, the FCC ensures that Americans will benefit from a series of good and commonsense wins,” said FCC Chairman Brendan Carr in a May 16 announcement.
“The transaction will unleash billions of dollars in new infrastructure builds in communities across the country—including rural America. This investment will accelerate the transition away from old, copper line networks to modern, high-speed ones. And it delivers for America’s tower and telecom crews who do the hard, often gritty work needed to build high-speed networks.”
The FCC announcement went on to say that Verizon has committed to scrapping its DEI initiatives, ensuring the new entity “will enact policies and practices consistent with the law and the public interest.”
Verizon told Carr that the telecom company was removing its DEI website and DEI references from employee training as part of the changes. The company also committed to adjusting hiring policies, career development, supplier diversity, and practices around corporate sponsorship.
Senior Vice President at Verizon Kathy Grillo said that once the deal is finalized early next year, the telecommunications company will “be well positioned to provide world-class fiber and wireless broadband services to American consumers across the country,” per Reuters.
As part of the FCC approval, Verizon will be permitted to upgrade and expand Frontier’s existing network in more than two dozen states. The merger is expected to enable Verizon to deliver fiber to at least one million more American homes per year.