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Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
T-Mobile ending DEI programs as it seeks US FCC approval for 2 deals
By David Shepardson Wireless carrier T-Mobile US said on Wednesday it is ending its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, under pressure from the Trump administration as it seeks regulatory approval for two major deals. T-Mobile said in a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr made public on Wednesday that the wireless company is ending its DEI-related policies "not just in name, but in substance." T-Mobile said it will no longer have any individual roles or teams focused on DEI, is removing any references to DEI on its websites and has removed references to DEI from its employee training materials. Carr said in a text message he was pleased with the changes. "This is another good step forward for equal opportunity, nondiscrimination and the public interest." T-Mobile is awaiting FCC approval to buy almost all of regional carrier United States Cellular's wireless operations including customers, stores and 30% of its spectrum assets in a deal valued at $4.4 billion. The FCC is also weighing a separate transaction in which T-Mobile would establish a joint venture with KKR to acquire internet service provider Metronet, which reaches more than 2 million homes and businesses in 17 states. T-Mobile plans at closing to invest about $4.9 billion to acquire a 50% equity stake in the joint venture and 100% of Metronet's residential fiber retail operations and customers. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, criticized T-Mobile's action saying "in yet another cynical bid to win FCC regulatory approval, T-Mobile is making a mockery of its professed commitment to eliminating discrimination, promoting fairness, and amplifying underrepresented voices." The FCC in May approved Verizon Communications' $20 billion deal to acquire fiber-optic internet providers Frontier Communications after the largest U.S. telecom company agreed to end its DEI program and after the FCC opened an investigation. Carr, a Republican designated by Trump in January as chair, told Comcast in February he was opening a probe into the NBC News-parent company's promotion of DEI programs. In January, Trump issued sweeping executive orders to dismantle U.S. government DEI programs, and pressured the private sector to join the initiative.
The Star
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
T-Mobile ending DEI programs as it seeks US FCC approval for 2 deals
FILE PHOTO: A T-Mobile logo is seen on the storefront door of a store in Manhattan, New York, U.S., April 30, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo (Reuters) -Wireless carrier T-Mobile US said on Wednesday it is ending its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, under pressure from the Trump administration as it seeks regulatory approval for two major deals. T-Mobile said in a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr made public on Wednesday that the wireless company is ending its DEI-related policies "not just in name, but in substance." T-Mobile said it will no longer have any individual roles or teams focused on DEI, is removing any references to DEI on its websites and has removed references to DEI from its employee training materials. Carr said in a text message he was pleased with the changes. "This is another good step forward for equal opportunity, nondiscrimination and the public interest." T-Mobile is awaiting FCC approval to buy almost all of regional carrier United States Cellular's wireless operations including customers, stores and 30% of its spectrum assets in a deal valued at $4.4 billion. The FCC is also weighing a separate transaction in which T-Mobile would establish a joint venture with KKR to acquire internet service provider Metronet, which reaches more than 2 million homes and businesses in 17 states. T-Mobile plans at closing to invest about $4.9 billion to acquire a 50% equity stake in the joint venture and 100% of Metronet's residential fiber retail operations and customers. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, criticized T-Mobile's action saying "in yet another cynical bid to win FCC regulatory approval, T-Mobile is making a mockery of its professed commitment to eliminating discrimination, promoting fairness, and amplifying underrepresented voices." The FCC in May approved Verizon Communications' $20 billion deal to acquire fiber-optic internet providers Frontier Communications after the largest U.S. telecom company agreed to end its DEI program and after the FCC opened an investigation. Carr, a Republican designated by Trump in January as chair, told Comcast in February he was opening a probe into the NBC News-parent company's promotion of DEI programs. In January, Trump issued sweeping executive orders to dismantle U.S. government DEI programs, and pressured the private sector to join the initiative. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio)
USA Today
01-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Verizon's $9.6 billion Frontier deal under FCC scrutiny for DEI programs
David Shepardson Reuters Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr on Thursday opened a probe into diversity practices at Verizon VZ.N and raised the telecommunications company's ongoing effort to purchase Frontier Communications FYBR.O. Carr, a Republican designated by President Donald Trump last month, earlier this month told NBC News-parent Comcast CMCSA.O he was opening a similar probe into the company's promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Verizon is awaiting FCC approval for its $9.6 billion purchase of Frontier. "In order to aid the FCC's resolution of these matters, please reach out to the agency personnel that have been working on Verizon's pending transactions at the FCC," Carr wrote. "They are the FCC personnel most familiar with Verizon's operations due to their merger review activity." Carr criticized Verizon for its continued promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Verizon said in a statement, "we are aware of the chairman's concerns. We look forward to engaging with the FCC staff on this issue. Verizon has always focused on having the best talent to deliver the best experiences to our customers." Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Carr said in his letter to Comcast earlier this month that the commission would take "fresh action to ensure that every entity the FCC regulates complies with the civil rights protections enshrined in the Communications Act... including by shutting down any programs that promote invidious forms of DEI." DEI rollback:Trump asks Apple to end diversity policies after shareholders vote in favor Shortly after taking office on January 20, Trump — who designated Carr as chair — issued sweeping executive orders to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the United States and pressured the private sector to join the initiative. Carr is investigating numerous media companies. The FCC is reviewing whether a CBS News "60 Minutes" interview with then Vice President Kamala Harris violates "news distortion" rules. Paramount is seeking FCC approval for an $8.4-billion merger with Skydance Media. In January, Carr reinstated complaints about how Walt Disney's DIS.N ABC News moderated the pre-election TV debate between then-President Joe Biden and Trump and NBC letting Harris appear on "Saturday Night Live" before the election. The FCC, an independent federal agency, issues eight-year licenses to individual broadcast stations, not networks. Reporting by David Shepardson
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FCC to open probe into NBC-parent Comcast over promotion of DEI programs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr told NBC News-parent Comcast it is opening a probe into the company's promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, according to a letter seen by Reuters. "The FCC will be taking fresh action to ensure that every entity the FCC regulates complies with the civil rights protections enshrined in the Communications Act... including by shutting down any programs that promote invidious forms of DEI discrimination," the letter to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts.
Reuters
12-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
FCC to open probe into NBC-parent Comcast over promotion of DEI programs
WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr told NBC News-parent Comcast (CMCSA.O), opens new tab it is opening a probe into the company's promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, according to a letter seen by Reuters. "The FCC will be taking fresh action to ensure that every entity the FCC regulates complies with the civil rights protections enshrined in the Communications Act... including by shutting down any programs that promote invidious forms of DEI discrimination," the letter to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts.
