WASHINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) -

The Federal Communications Commission said Friday it was

approving Verizon Communications's ( VZ ) $20 billion deal to

acquire fiber-optic internet providers Frontier Communications

after the largest U.S. telecom company agreed to end

its diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Verizon agreed to buy Frontier in September for about

$9.6 billion and absorb $10 billion in Frontier debt.

Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr

said "by approving this deal, the FCC ensures that Americans

will benefit from a series of good and common-sense wins. The

transaction will unleash billions of dollars in new

infrastructure builds in communities across the country."

In February, Carr said he was opening a probe of Verizon

for its promotion of DEI programs and said it could be a factor

in the Frontier deal.

Verizon said in a letter to Carr seen by Reuters the

company was removing its "Diversity and Inclusion" website and

removing references to DEI from employee training and making

other changes to hiring, career development, supplier diversity

and corporate sponsorship practices. Verizon said all of the

same provisions will apply to Frontier.

The FCC said Verizon will be able to upgrade and expand

Frontier's existing network in 25 states, bringing more fiber to

more communities. With the deal, Verizon expects to deploy fiber

to 1 million or more American homes annually.

Carr also touted commitments Verizon made to tower and

telecom crews.

Verizon will no longer maintain any workforce diversity

goals and will drop a component of its management compensation

plan that historically included a goal to increase the

representation of women and minorities in the company's U.S.

workforce.

"Verizon recognizes that some DEI policies and practices

could be associated with discrimination," said Verizon chief

legal officer Vandana Venkatesh.

Carr, a Republican designated by President Donald Trump in

January, told NBC News-parent Comcast ( CMCSA ) in February he

was opening a similar probe into the company's promotion of DEI

programs.

Trump in January issued sweeping executive orders to

dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the United

States and pressured the private sector to join the initiative.

Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized

Verizon as "yet another company capitulates to the

administration's attempts to micromanage employment practices

and impose heavy regulatory burdens on companies that require

the FCC's approval of their transactions."