Verizon-Frontier deal gets green light after ending DEI commitments

“Verizon has also committed to ending DEI-related practices as specified in the FCC’s record and has reaffirmed the merged entity’s commitment to equal opportunity and non-discrimination,” the FCC said in a statement.

“This will ensure that the combined business will enact policies and practices consistent with the law and the public interest.”

Verizon ends DEI commitments

The approval came a day after Vandana Venkatesh, EVP Public Policy and Chief Legal Officer of Verizon, penned a letter to FCC chairman Brendan Carr saying it would end its DEI-related policies and practices “effective immediately.”

“Verizon recognises that some DEI policies and practices could be associated with discrimination,” Venkatesh said in the letter. “For that reason, Verizon reaffirms its commitment to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination and is modifying its practices and ending its DEI-related policies.”

According to Venkatesh, Verizon will change its HR structure to remove teams or individual roles that are focused on DEI.