Verizon Axing Programs, receives FCC approval for border arrangement $ 9.6b

The Federal Communications Commission said Friday that it was approved by the Verizon Communications agreement $ 20 billion to obtain fiber optic internet border communications, as the largest US Telecom company agreed to complete its programs of diversity, capital and its inclusion.

Verizon agreed to buy a Frontier in September for about $ 9.6 billion and absorb $ 10 billion in border debt.

Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Brendan Carr said “approved this agreement, FCC ensures that Americans benefit from a series of good and ordinary victories. The transaction will bring billions of dollars in new infrastructure construction in communities across the country.”

In February, Carr said he was opening an investigation of Verizon to promote his Dei programs and said he could be a factor in the border agreement.

Verizon said in a letter to the first Carr from Reuters the company was removing its website “diversity and inclusion” and removing dei references from employee training and making other changes in employment, career development, supplier diversity and corporate sponsorship practices.

FCC said Verizon will be able to improve and expand the existing frontier network in 25 countries, bringing more fiber to more communities. With the deal, Verizon expects to set fiber in 1 million or more US homes a year.

Carr also sought the commitments Verizon made to the Tower and Telecom crews.

Verizon will no longer hold any purpose of diversity of workforce and removes a component of his management compensation plan that historically involved an intention to increase the representation of women and minorities in the company’s workforce in the US.

“Verizon acknowledges that some dei policies and practices may be associated with discrimination,” said leading legal official Verizon Vandana Venkat on paper, saying the change was effective immediately.

Carr, a Republican appointed by President Trump in January, told NBC News Comcast parent in February that he was opening a similar investigation into the promotion of the DEI programs.

Trump in January issued comprehensive executive orders to dismantle diversity, capital and inclusion programs in the US and pressured the private sector to join the initiative.

FCC Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized Verizon as “another company capitulates administration efforts to micromanize employment practices and impose heavy regulatory loads on companies that require FCC approval for their transactions.”