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C-SPAN Has long history of requesting camera access


On Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, C-SPAN sent a letter to the Democratic and Republican leaders of the House and Senate requesting that final negotiations on the health care legislation be open to C-SPAN cameras, as it is legislation that affects every American.

Throughout its 30-plus year history, C-SPAN has pushed for greater public access to the public policy process, requesting more television coverage of the House and Senate, of the Supreme Court and even the media. Samples of earlier correspondence on camera access are listed below.

Letter to Majority Leader Dole 1995
Letter to Speaker Gingrich 1994
Letter to Speaker Gingrich 1995
Letter to Chief Justice Roberts 2005
Letter to Speaker Pelosi 2007
Letter to the Gridiron Dinner Committee 2010
Response Letter From the Gridiron Dinner Committee 2010
C-SPAN Health Care Letter 2010
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Corporate Information
C-SPAN is a private, non-profit company, created in 1979 by the cable television industry as a public service. Our mission is to provide public access to the political process. C-SPAN receives no government funding; operations are funded by fees paid by cable and satellite affiliates who carry C-SPAN programming.

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C-SPAN & "Cameras in the Courts"
For more than 20 years, C-SPAN has supported initiatives that encourage greater public access to the court, including opening the court to electronic media. Chronicle C-SPAN's leadership on the issue, and learn more about the Justices' views based on their public statements.

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C-SPAN and the TV ratings system
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