AT&T has joined Verizon and T-Mobile in ending its DEI-related policies.

The US carrier informed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week that it will abandon the policies as the carrier pushes for approval for its $23 billion EchoStar spectrum deal and its $5.75bn acquisition of Lumen's mass market fiber business.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr previously stated earlier this year that he was prepared to block mergers and acquisition proposals from companies that promote “invidious” diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.

Both Verizon and T-Mobile have ditched DEI policies to push through deals.

In a letter to the FCC this week, as published publicly on X by Carr, AT&T has committed to doing the same.

AT&T informed the FCC that it "does not and will not have any roles focused on DEI," while it has removed workforce DEI training as well as any DEI references from its internal and external messaging.

“AT&T has always stood for merit-based opportunity, and we are pleased to reaffirm our commitment to equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination today,” noted AT&T.

The telco said that it has "realigned" its priorities as it continues to build out its 5G network across the country.

"We accept AT&T's commitments as firm and definite, and expect that these changes will prevent DEI discrimination in the post-transaction company, as consistent with the law and the public interest," said the FCC yesterday in response.

Following AT&T's strategy change, the FCC has since approved the telco's $1 billion acquisition of spectrum from UScellular, which is now part of T-Mobile following its $4.4bn buyout of UScellular's wireless operations.

AT&T announced the acquisition in November of last year. As part of the agreement, AT&T snaps up 1,250 million MHz-Pops of 3.45 GHz and 331 million MHz-Pops of 700 MHz B/C block licenses.

"We find it unlikely that the proposed acquisition of 700 MHz and 3.45 GHz spectrum would allow AT&T to foreclose entry, raise rivals' costs, or otherwise harm the public interest," said the FCC of the deal.

AT&T's decision to reverse its DEI policies has not pleased everyone, however.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez called the reversal a "strategic financial play."

"AT&T's reversal isn't a sudden transformation of values, but a strategic financial play to curry favor with this FCC/Administration," said Gomez on X this week. "Companies should remember that abandoning fairness and inclusion for short-term gain will be a stain to their reputation long into the future."