A political ad by Democratic congressional candidate Anthony Brindisi has been rejected from airing on Charter Spectrum cable channels. Brindisi said the company is censoring him by refusing to air it.
Brindisi’s ad begins with him saying Spectrum cable is ripping customers off by raising their rates by almost double. It goes on to attack his opponent, Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-New Hartford), for accepting campaign contributions from Spectrum and supporting the tax overhaul, which the company benefitted from by more than $9 billion.
Brindisi said because there is no competition, Charter Spectrum runs the show.
“I think that it's very scary that they can censor this kind of an ad that is critical of a company that is not doing what they're supposed to be doing here in New York," Brindisi said. "This is a dangerous precendent. If this is first, what's next? It’s a free speech issue. They provide the cable but I don’t believe they control the airwaves. We’re pointing out to folks that I have fought them here in New York and have called for investigations into Spectrum about their high cable prices and their failure to expand high speed internet.”
A spokesperson for Charter Spectrum said they do not allow ads that disparage the company. Brindisi said he is just telling the truth.
“They are enriching themselves off the taxpayers dime, and using their revenues to help bankroll the campaigns of many members of Congress, who will then turn a blind eye to what this company is doing,” Brindisi said.
The Public Service Commission evicted Charter Spectrum from the state last month for failing to fulfill its commitments, a decision the company has indicated they will fight. Brindisi’s ad will still air on broadcast network channels.
Tenney campaign manager Raychel Renna responded to Brindisi's criticism, saying Tenney does want Charter to expand its rural broadband and provide affordable service. Renna said it was under Brindisi and Cuomo's watch that Charter was allowed to create a monopoly.
Read Renna's full statement below.
"Rep. Tenney believes Charter needs to meet its commitment to expanding rural broadband and providing affordable, quality services. As usual, Anthony Brindisi isn’t being honest. Democrats rule Albany with an iron fist, and it was on Brindisi and Cuomo’s watch that Charter was allowed to effectively create a monopoly in upstate New York. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which has given Brindisi $10,000, supported the Charter merger and got big raises, and are now engaged in a bitter contract battle with Charter. The answer is not to drive one company and thousands of more jobs out of New York. Rep. Tenney supports more competition so consumers get lower prices and better service, not another corrupt Brindisi/Cuomo Albany deal that replaces one monopoly with another. "
