Cable Theft Fact Sheet
What's Cable Theft?
Any time a person receives Cable TV without paying and without the authorization or permission of their local Cable TV provider it is Cable Theft.
Active Cable Theft
Active cable theft is when a person knowingly and/or intentionally illegaly makes a phisical connection to their local Cable TV provider's system. This includes intentionally and/or knowingly attaches equipment (example: decoders, black boxes, descramblers, etc.) in order to receive unauthorized cable services, including specific pay channels.
Cable Theft can also be taping into and/or removing filters on main cable lines.
Passive Cable Theft
Passive cable theft is when someone moves into a new residence, rented or owned, which already has unauthorized cable service, and they do not notify the local cable company.
Why is cable theft illegal?
In November, 1994, the Federal Communications Commission released a public notice that said using any descramblers which are not authorized by local cable systems is a violation of federal laws.
States also have laws against Cable Theft. These laws vary by state.
Punishment
Sentences for Cable Theft can range from probation up to 15 years in prison, with fines ranging from $1000 to a couble of million dollars, depending on sevarity of theft, and whether the person stealing Cable Services is distributing it to other parties or not.
Any time a person receives Cable TV without paying and without the authorization or permission of their local Cable TV provider it is Cable Theft.
Active Cable Theft
Active cable theft is when a person knowingly and/or intentionally illegaly makes a phisical connection to their local Cable TV provider's system. This includes intentionally and/or knowingly attaches equipment (example: decoders, black boxes, descramblers, etc.) in order to receive unauthorized cable services, including specific pay channels.
Cable Theft can also be taping into and/or removing filters on main cable lines.
Passive Cable Theft
Passive cable theft is when someone moves into a new residence, rented or owned, which already has unauthorized cable service, and they do not notify the local cable company.
Why is cable theft illegal?
In November, 1994, the Federal Communications Commission released a public notice that said using any descramblers which are not authorized by local cable systems is a violation of federal laws.
States also have laws against Cable Theft. These laws vary by state.
Punishment
Sentences for Cable Theft can range from probation up to 15 years in prison, with fines ranging from $1000 to a couble of million dollars, depending on sevarity of theft, and whether the person stealing Cable Services is distributing it to other parties or not.
