AT&T Ends DEI Programs to Secure FCC Approval for Spectrum Deal

U.S. major telecommunications firm AT&T Inc. announced in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it is formally ending its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, including any roles dedicated to DEI, as part of seeking regulatory approval for a spectrum-assets acquisition.

According to Reuters, AT&T said the shift is in response to evolving legal and regulatory conditions, stating it “does not and will not have any roles focused on DEI.” The move coincides with AT&T’s pending purchase of wireless spectrum licences from U.S. Cellular in a deal valued at about US$1.02 billion that requires FCC sign-off.

The regulatory backdrop has shifted under FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who has signalled that telecom companies seeking significant transactions must eliminate DEI programmes — a policy steered by current federal executive-branch priorities.

AT&T’s announcement aligns it with peers in the telecom sector. For instance, T‑Mobile US, Inc. earlier ended DEI initiatives while seeking approval for its own multi-billion-dollar transactions. Analysts say the change underscores how regulatory considerations — particularly access to spectrum and mergers — can drive corporate‐policy shifts.

Critics argue the move reflects regulatory expediency more than a genuine change in corporate values. The FCC’s sole Democratic Commissioner, Anna M. Gómez, has warned such capitulations may damage firms’ long-term reputation by “abandoning fairness and inclusion for short-term gain.”

AT&T did not provide detailed commentary beyond its regulatory letter. The company emphasised that while the specific DEI-designated roles and training will end, it will retain employee networks and other engagement mechanisms — though participation will no longer factor into hiring or promotion decisions.

The case raises broader questions about how regulators can shape corporate culture, and whether companies will recalibrate their inclusion strategies now that DEI programmes are entangled with transactional approvals in regulated industries.