Public invited to learn about public affairs through interactive multimedia

The C-SPAN Digital Bus will visit Bend on its national tour with two stops in the Bend area. During the stops, visitors will have the opportunity to tour the Digital Bus and learn about C-SPAN’s public affairs programming.

Launched in June 2010, C-SPAN’s new customized coach is engaging visitors of all ages through interactive multimedia. Digital Bus visitors are experiencing C-SPAN’s unique public affairs content across high-tech platforms such as HD-TV, the internet, and radio, encouraging customers to follow “Washington, your way.” Hands on demonstrations feature the C-SPAN Video Library and the network’s social media offerings and there are special resources for civics teachers and their students.


Thursday, April 21, 2011

Bend High School
230 NE 6th Street
Bend, OR 97701
8am – 10:45am

Summit High School
2855 NW Clearwater Drive
Bend, OR 97701
1pm – 3pm

*Boys & Girls Club of Central Oregon
3:30pm – 4:30pm

*Downtown Bend Public Library (Open to the Public)
4:30pm – 5:30pm

*Bus will be parked on Louisiana Ave. for both events (North of the Downtown Bend Public Library)


The Digital Bus is designed to provide interactive, self guided multimedia tours demonstrating C-SPAN’s programming via varied distribution platforms to all visitors, including:

  - TV monitors to demonstrate the C-SPAN Networks in both standard and high definition.
  - Computer kiosks to demonstrate C-SPAN’s many web offerings including the Video Library.
  - Laptops and mobile application devices to demonstrate C-SPAN’s social media presence and radio offerings.

The C-SPAN Digital Bus was launched in June of 2010, however, this year also marks the bus program’s eighteenth year on the road. The C-SPAN Digital Bus and crew travel the country, producing programs, and promoting civic engagement through education.

About C-SPAN
C-SPAN was created by America's cable companies in 1979 as a public service and programs three public affairs television networks (C-SPAN, C-SPAN2 and C-SPAN3); C-SPAN Radio, a Washington, D.C. public affairs radio station distributed by XM Satellite Radio; and a video-rich website which hosts the C-SPAN Video Library. Visit www.c-span.org.

About BendBroadband
BendBroadband is a family-owned, Oregon-based company serving Central Oregon since 1955. A leader in the cable and broadband sectors, the company offers an extensive range of broadband, cable and telephone services for commercial and residential customers. Central Oregon facilities include over a thousand miles of fiber and coax infrastructure along with metropolitan optical Ethernet, T-1/PRI and hosted PBX services serving the business community. BendBroadband offers multiple phone and high-speed Internet options with speeds up to 60 Mps. BendBroadband operates one of the fastest wireless broadband network in the nation, which covers an expanded Central Oregon footprint along with outdoor Wi-Fi. The company was among the first to be 100% digital and offers Video on Demand, digital video recorders, HDTV (with more than 100 HD channels) and a choice of interactive program guides. The company focuses its corporate contributions and sponsorship efforts on youth, and by supporting an array of arts and entertainment in Central Oregon. In the community, BendBroadband provides extensive local sports, civic programming and local features created and produced by COTV, channel 11.

About the C-SPAN Digital Bus
In June 2010 the C-SPAN Digital Bus was launched to showcase cutting edge technologies and update C-SPAN’s community outreach within the eighteen year Bus program. In 1993, C-SPAN launched its Bus program as a way to bring the world of public affairs into schools and communities nationwide. Working with cable television partners across the nation, C-SPAN’s bus program has visited students, teachers, and citizens in all 50 states to discuss public affairs, C-SPAN's programming and free educational resources. In May 2010, after traveling more than a million miles, the two original C-SPAN buses were retired from service, and the C-SPAN Digital Bus was launched.

Visit www.c-span.org/bus for scheduling and other information on the C-SPAN Digital Bus.