T-Mobile has closed its deal with fiber provider Lumos following threats from Federal Communications Chair Brendan Carr that companies with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies would be refused approval for mergers and acquisitions.
T-Mobile executive vice president Mark Nelson indicated in a letter to the FCC that the company was “conducting a comprehensive review of its DEI policies, programs, and activities” and that the Lumos joint venture would not lead to discriminatory practices.
The FCC signed off on the deal on 28 March, shortly after Nelson’s letter.
Since becoming FCC chair, Carr has also investigated DEI practices at Comcast, Verizon and Disney.
Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee have launched their own investigation into what they have described as Carr’s “repeated attacks”.
They will examine the resources devoted to what they are calling “bogus investigations”.