C-SPAN is a public service created by the American cable television industry to provide online resources for public affairs. C-SPAN's wants to "provide C-SPAN's audience access to the live gavel-to-gavel proceedings of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and to other forums where public policy is discussed, debated and decided--all without editing, commentary or analysis and with a balanced presentation of points of view" and to provide the audience direct access to elected officials and vice versa.