Gomez Criticizes FCC Order Approving Verizon/Frontier
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez on Thursday called the FCC’s actions against regulated companies that force them to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs “sinister.” She was particularly critical of the Wireline Bureau’s order last week approving Verizon’s $20 billion acquisition of Frontier (see 2505160050) after Verizon agreed to get rid of DEI programs, which she said were “meant to increase fairness in hiring in the workforce.”
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Gomez also criticized that the approval came via bureau action rather than a commissioner vote. “A transaction of this magnitude should have been decided by a full commission vote and not in a backroom deal.” Verizon was wrong to agree to the FCC's conditions, she added. “These companies realize that by giving in today they will endanger themselves and others” and face “further demands from this administration to censor and control their speech and actions tomorrow,” she said. “These are not good-faith regulatory efforts” but “intimidation meant to censor speech and control content.”