HOW  TO  PREVENT  VIEWING  OBJECTIONABLE
TELEVISION  PROGRAMS

The cable television industry invests significant resources to protect its programs from theft and unauthorized reception. Typically, cable television companies encrypt or scramble the signal of channels that the subscriber has not purchased so that only persons who have paid for the service will be able to receive and view it. However, some scrambling techniques employed by cable operators may not always fully block the audio and video of each channel. The result may be "signal bleed."

 What is "Signal Bleed?" 

Signal bleed is the ability of a cable subscriber to access the audio and/or the video of a channel that the subscriber has not purchased. For example, if a subscriber has not purchased a certain cable station, but is able to see or hear the programming on that station for brief periods, there is signal bleed. Signal bleed may enable an individual cable subscriber to view programming that contains objectionable content or material. To address this specific concern, Congress enacted Section 504 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996.

 How Does Section 504 Address a Signal Bleed Problem? 

Upon the request of the subscriber, Section 504 requires a cable company to fully scramble or block the audio and the video of the objectionable programming at no charge to the subscriber.

This law applies to any type of programming that you do not wish to view. However, the programming must be on a channel that is not included in the programming package that you purchased from your cable company.

To take advantage of Section 504, contact your cable company and request that the channel be blocked. Section 504 does not require the cable operator to block the channel unless the subscriber requests blocking.

 Other Mechanisms Available to Block Programming or Channels 

Generally, cable television operators have the right to determine the channels that are available on their cable systems. To maximize the number of subscribers, the cable operator selects channels that are likely to appeal to a broad spectrum of viewers. Because of this, a cable subscriber may receive programs as part of a programming package that he or she does not wish to view.

The cable operator, in general, is not responsible for the programming that is shown on a particular channel and does not have the right to prevent the transmission of programming that may contain objectionable content. However, individual subscribers have various tools available that may be used to prevent the viewing of programs or channels. For example, the subscriber may employ a lockbox and/or the V-chip.

• Lockbox

A "lockbox" is a device that a subscriber may lease or purchase from the cable company or from a retail store. By using a lockbox, a cable subscriber can literally lock specific channels so that the programming cannot be viewed.

• V-chip

Federal law now requires that most programming available on television is rated to alert viewers if the program contains violence, inappropriate language, or other material that a viewer may find offensive. A V-chip is the circuitry in a television that is capable of identifying these ratings and blocking the programming that an individual finds inappropriate. All 13-inch or larger screen televisions that are manufactured or imported for use in the United States are required by law to be equipped with the V-chip. Television manufacturers were required to include the V-chip on at least 50% of their products after July 1, 1999 and on the remaining 50% by January 1, 2000. If you have an older model television, you may purchase a V-chip and attach it to the television. Depending on its technical specifications, the V-chip may be used to block individual programs or it may be used to block one or more channels entirely.

 Where to Go For Additional Information and Assistance 

For more information on Section 504 and other issues, you may contact the FCC toll free at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY. You may also obtain information on numerous telecommunications-related topics of interest to consumers at www.fcc.gov/cgb.

To receive information on this and other FCC consumer topics through the
Commission’s electronic subscriber service, click on www.fcc.gov/cgb/emailservice.html.