Boehner denies C-SPAN's request to add cameras in House

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) denied a request by C-SPAN to allow the cable network control over cameras in the House.

C-SPAN said it was "disappointed" in a decision by Boehner this week to maintain the status quo in the House, meaning that broadcasts from the House are restricted and under the control of the Speaker.

Boehner wrote C-SPAN on Thursday to say he believes the House is "best served by the current system of televised proceedings provided by the House Recording Studio."

The nonpartisan network wrote Boehner in November to make the same request it made to his predecessor, requesting permission to install additional, privately-operated cameras in the House that allows C-SPAN and other networks to produce a "journalistic product."

“We’re disappointed to learn that despite 32 years of experience with televising its sessions and in an age of ubiquitous cameras in political life, the House of Representatives has chosen not to allow C-SPAN’s cameras into its chamber to cover its sessions," network CEO Brian Lamb said in a statement. "We continue to feel that the public is best served by seeing a more complete picture of the legislative process than what’s delivered by Congressionally-controlled cameras and will continue to work with Speaker Boehner and other leaders in the House in hope of one day gaining access on behalf of the media.”

Boehner did decide this week, however, to assent to some requests by the Radio-Television Correspondents' Association (RTCA) to increase media access at the Capitol.

Boehner wrote the RTCA, in a letter posted by TalkingPointsMemo, to notify them that he'd agreed to add several new permanent stakeout locations, and allow more opportunities for reporters to broadcast live from the House chamber.