Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73
§560 Scrambling of cable channels for nonsubscribers
Title 47 › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER V–A— - CABLE COMMUNICATIONS › Part Part IV— - Miscellaneous Provisions › § 560
Summary
If a cable subscriber asks, the cable company must, at no charge, fully block a channel’s audio and video so someone who is not a subscriber cannot receive it. Scramble means jumbling the signal so it cannot be viewed or heard.
Full Legal Text
Title 47, §560
Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Upon request by a cable service subscriber, a cable operator shall, without charge, fully scramble or otherwise fully block the audio and video programming of each channel carrying such programming so that one not a subscriber does not receive it.
(b)As used in this section, the term “scramble” means to rearrange the content of the signal of the programming so that the programming cannot be viewed or heard in an understandable manner.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
47 U.S.C. § 560
Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73