For Immediate Release: March 4, 2016 Contact: Christina DiPasquale, 202.716.1953, christina@balestramedia.com Univision Blacked Out for AT&T’s U-Verse Customers Ahead of Mar. 9 Debate is Injustice to Latino Voters, Says National Hispanic Media Coalition Today, Univision-owned stations were blacked out on AT&T's U-Verse platform, serving 6 million homes, this morning - less than one week from the Univision-co-hosted Democratic debate in Miami, Florida. National Hispanic Media Coalition released the following statement from president and CEO Alex Nogales: "This year there are more that 27.3 million Latinos eligible to vote in the election and the sudden lack of programming from Univision—the most popular Spanish-language news network— experienced by viewers mere days before the Democratic debate co-hosted by the network is a grave injustice to voters looking to be informed. All candidates should want their message to reach pivotal Latino voters, who have the ability to sway this election, and this debate is no exception. This situation jeopardizes the ability of Latinos to be well-informed participants in the political process. Both parties must come back to the table immediately to resolve their differences and come to a decision that is good for the Latino community-making sure we have the information we need in this very important upcoming election.” This year, Latino voters comprise 12 percent of all eligible voters-more than any other racial or ethnic group in the nation-and nearly half of these voters will be millennials. The National Hispanic Media Coalition was a partner to a letter sent to debate moderators yesterday, asking how candidates would address the digital divide that leaves communities of color without Internet access. Last week, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, which includes the nation's 40 preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, challenged candidates to respond to the recommendations supported by National Hispanic Media Coalition to improve broadband access for people of color, modernize the Lifeline Program and make the media more inclusive of Latinos. ### The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) is a media advocacy and civil rights organization for the advancement of Latinos, working towards a media that is fair and inclusive of Latinos, and towards universal, affordable, and open access to communications. ]]>