Verizon must deploy fiber to 75,000 locations, build new wireless sites and offer $20 broadband to low-income households.

Utility regulators in California have approved Verizon’s propose nearly $10 billion acquisition of peer broadband provider Frontier Communications, though the green light comes with a few strings attached.

On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unanimously approved the acquisition after a year-long process, during which nearly every element of Verizon and Frontier’s existing businesses were scrutinized.

The deal requires Verizon to deploy its fiber-based Internet to more than 75,000 new locations in the state within the next five years — Verizon doesn’t currently offer its residential Fios service anywhere in California, but does offer wireless 5G home Internet in some communities.

  • Hegar@fedia.io
    17·
    2 days ago

    In employment, Verizon said it will commit to aligning its business in California with the state’s various requirements under its diversity, equity and inclusiveness (DEI) laws, though the company ended its employment-based DEI initiatives last year in order to secure approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its purchase of Frontier.

    The DEI commitments Verizon will make are not expected to conflict with its promises to the FCC, which largely involved hiring and promotional practices.

    So CA allows yet more dangerous corporate power consolidation in exchange for just following CA law - but not so much as to conflict with verizon’s anti-DEI promises to the regime.

    What a truly progressive victory worthy of gavin newsom.