FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Brandon Diaz- Executive Director
(786) 548-1532
MIAMI (Feb. 10, 2022) – Following the controversial decision by Atlantic Broadband to actively censor Newsmax in South Florida, Republican Party of Miami-Dade County Chairman René Garcia provided the following statement:
“As the Chairman of the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County and a strong advocate of our First Amendment rights, I call on Atlantic Broadband’s President Frank van der Post to restore Newsmax and resume the free flow of information to Floridians.”
The South Florida-based outlet is a major cable news channel headquartered in Florida, and had been on Atlantic Broadband (ABB), which recently changed its name to Breezeline, for five years. On January 1st, 2022, without notice to its Sunshine State customers, ABB canceled Newsmax in 100,000 homes, including more than 25,000 subscribers in South Florida alone.
“Newsmax was in the middle of negotiations with the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), of which ABB is a member, but ABB censored it anyway, even though almost every other member of NCTC did not,” said Chairman Garcia. “Now, Newsmax has come to an agreement with NCTC, which ABB can easily opt into, but so far has not.”
Chairman Garcia, who has encouraged a robust exchange of ideas throughout the community, has become a leading figure in holding local officials accountable throughout his tenure in public office and now as the head of the Miami-Dade GOP.
Continued Chairman Garcia:
“Americans and Floridians want fairness and balance in their cable packages, and the ability to tune into the news channels of their choice. In fact, Newsmax is the fourth highest-rated cable news channel, and a top 20 cable channel overall. Virtually every major cable company currently carries Newsmax.
Newsmax has proven itself as an important way for federal, state and local officials to communicate to Florida residents, including those in and around the Miami-Dade area.
Today, I join my fellow Floridians in urging Mr. Van der Post to take action immediately to restore Newsmax to ABB subscribers.”
For more information, please visit https://www.miamidadegop.org/