US mobile provider AT&T stated in a note to the US telecoms governing body that it had pledged to discontinue diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, a step that occurs as it pursues authorization from the Trump administration to purchase wireless spectrum holdings.
In November 2024, AT&T (T) consented to acquire certain mobile spectrum licenses from US Cellular in a $1.02 billion transaction needing sanction from the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC under President Donald Trump has mandated telecom enterprises to cease DEI schemes as a prerequisite for validating exchanges.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr noted AT&T’s correspondence on Tuesday affirmed its pledge declared earlier this year to terminate DEI-related procedures.
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AT&T conveyed in its communication that it “does not and shall not maintain any positions centered on DEI.”
In July, mobile operator T-Mobile US announced it was stopping its DEI programs while seeking regulatory endorsement for two significant exchanges, including buying nearly all of regional carrier United States Cellular’s mobile operations encompassing subscribers, retail locations, and 30% of its spectrum assets in a deal valued at $4.4 billion.
The FCC also in July authorized a distinct transaction wherein T-Mobile formed a partnership with KKR to take over internet service provider Metronet, which reaches over 2 million residences and enterprises across 17 states.
The FCC in May approved Verizon Communications’ $20 billion arrangement to absorb fiber-optic internet supplier Frontier Communications subsequent to Verizon agreeing to conclude its DEI scheme.
Carr, a Republican appointed by Trump in January as chair, informed Comcast in February he was commencing an inquiry into the NBC News-owner’s advocacy of DEI programs. In January, Trump issued broad directives to dismantle US government DEI initiatives, and urged the commercial sector to adhere to the campaign.
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