Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-110
§560 Scrambling of Cable Channels for Nonsubscribers
Title 47 › CHAPTER 5 — WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › SUBCHAPTER V–A — CABLE COMMUNICATIONS › Part IV — Miscellaneous Provisions › § 560
Summary
When a cable customer asks, the cable company must, at no charge, fully scramble or block a channel’s picture and sound so people who don’t subscribe cannot understand it; “scramble” means jumbling the signal.
Full Legal Text
Title 47, §560
Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Subscriber request
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)“Scramble” defined
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
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110