AT&T has officially told federal regulators it's shutting down all its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as the wireless carrier tries to get approval for a billion-dollar deal. The company sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission saying it no longer has any jobs or roles focused on DEI and won't create any in the future.
According to Reuters, the move comes as AT&T waits for the FCC to approve its $1.02 billion purchase of wireless spectrum licenses from US Cellular, which the company agreed to buy back in November 2024. Under the current administration, the FCC has been requiring phone companies to drop their diversity programs before giving them the okay on major business deals.
In its letter to regulators, AT&T said it will hire and promote people based purely on merit and qualifications, not race, gender, or other characteristics. The company also confirmed it has removed all DEI training and won't use hiring quotas based on race, sex, or sexual orientation.
AT&T isn't alone. T-Mobile made similar promises in July when it sought approval for deals worth billions of dollars. Verizon also agreed to end its DEI program earlier this year to get its $20 billion Frontier Communications acquisition approved. All three major carriers are essentially being required to make these changes if they want their deals to go through.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr confirmed that AT&T's letter matched commitments the company made earlier in the year. Carr has been actively investigating other companies over their diversity initiatives and has made it clear that ending these programs is now part of getting regulatory approval for major telecom transactions.
Source: Reuters
