Protest ignites debate about control of House cameras

Rank-and-file Democrats are calling for C-SPAN to be given more control of cameras in the House after the blackout of their sit-in on gun control.

The cameras in the House have long been under the control of the majority party, despite vocal protests from C-SPAN and government transparency advocates. Rep David Cicilline (D-RI) said Congress should reevaluate media access to floor proceedings, and said he would back a plan to allow C-SPAN to operate its own cameras in the chamber. "I would absolutely support that. I think it makes a lot of sense," said Rep Scott Peters (D-CA), whose Periscope stream of the sit-in went viral. Reporters are not allowed to take pictures or video recordings of the House floor. Lawmakers are also barred from taking pictures or videos, though Democrats flouted that rule during their sit-in. C-SPAN's broadcast, which it provides as a public service, relies on the House's own feed. It is managed by the House Recording Studio, which is under the umbrella of the majority leadership. C-SPAN and other media outlets that want to pick up the feed have no say on the video, audio or camera angles. “I think C-SPAN ought to be able to run the cameras as it determines how to manage them — not us. Because obviously, as we saw, the institution will be self-servant,” said Rep Gerry Connolly (D-VA), who has also been a strong advocate of getting cameras into the Supreme Court.