This letter may be copied and pasted into a file on your computer system to be used as needed. Please customize this letter by replacing the items in parentheses and bold with your local information. Use this letter to announce the Bus visit and invite your key publics, local government officials, and franchise authorities to tour the C-SPAN School Bus

Dear (individual's name):

As part of our ongoing commitment to education and public service, (name of cable system) is proud to sponsor a visit by the C-SPAN School Bus. The 45-foot motor coach, a traveling TV production studio and media demonstration center, will visit our community on its continuing tour to America's schools and cable systems. We have arranged for the Bus to stop at (name of school or other locations) in (name of town or city) on (date of visit) from (times). I would like to invite you for a special presentation aboard the bus on (date at (time).

The American cable television industry created C-SPAN in 1979 and C-SPAN 2 in 1986 as a public service. Since then, the C-SPAN Networks have provided viewers with a window to the public policy process. The public affairs programming found on the C-SPAN Networks is presented without commercials or commentary and includes live, gavel-to-gavel coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives (C-SPAN) and the Senate (C-SPAN2); congressional hearings; White House, State Department and Pentagon press briefings; National Press Club speeches; insights into Supreme Court decisions; unique book programming; international public affairs events; and live viewer call-ins with journalists and public policy makers.

All of the programming produced by the networks is commercial-free and copyright-cleared for educational use. We are proud that our support of the C-SPAN Networks makes these programs available for use by our local educators. C-SPAN airs on channel (X); C-SPAN2 on channel (X). Visit the C-SPAN web site at www.c-span.org for more information.

(Use the following paragraph if you plan to host a reception for government officials on the C-SPAN School Bus.)

Please join us on (date of presentation) at (site and address) to meet the C-SPAN staff, tour the Bus and learn more about the cable industry's public service network. R.S.V.P. to (name of individual) at (telephone number) by (date).

Sincerely,

(name and title)