US FCC approves two T-Mobile deals after wireless carrier drops DEI programs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has approved two T-Mobile deals that would expand the wireless carrier's network, the commission said on Friday, after the company ended its diversity, equity and inclusion programs under pressure from President Donald Trump's administration.

T-Mobile was allowed to buy almost all of regional carrier United States Cellular's wireless operations including customers, stores and 30% of its spectrum assets in a deal valued at $4.4 billion.

In a separate transaction, T-Mobile was given a green light to acquire internet service provider Metronet, which reaches more than 2 million homes and businesses in 17 states.

T-Mobile said in a letter to FCC Chair Brendan Carr made public on Wednesday that the company is ending its DEI-related policies "not just in name, but in substance."

In January, Trump issued sweeping executive orders to dismantle U.S. government DEI programs, and pressured the private sector to join the initiative.

U.S. antitrust enforcers approved T-Mobile's UScellular deal on Thursday.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; writing by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Leslie Adler and David Gregorio)

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