ABSTRACT
C-SPAN is, at heart, a simple journalistic concept, the television camera as an extension of the private citizen. Ironically, however, Congress has actually restricted citizens' ability to watch its deliberations on television in two ways: by limiting what the cameras installed in the Capitol can show and by enacting legislation that has caused cutbacks in the distribution of C-SPAN telecasts of the House and Senate. In short, one of the obstacles to full coverage of Congress on television is Congress itself. Since congressional television's inception in 1979, House and Senate video has been produced solely by government technicians who distribute their product to the media, including C-SPAN. Strict rules govern the pictures they produce from the two chambers. This year, however, a flurry of activity suggested there might be a relaxation of the restrictions Congress places on its telecasts.
