CA Public Utilities Commission Approves Verizon-Frontier Merger Amidst Diversity Concerns

Verizon Wireless recently learned firsthand how to balance the competing demands of federal and state regulators to secure final approval for its $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications, an Internet, television, and phone service provider in 25 states. Verizon first shuttered its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program to obtain Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval of the acquisition. The mammoth wireless company then abruptly switched gears, pledging millions of dollars in diversity investments to comply with state law and secure approval from the California Public Utilities Commission. That entity recently unanimously approved the acquisition, giving Verizon the green light to move forward and finalize the deal.