The illegal interception of cable television service is a A cable operator is the only one who can authorize
serious problem in the Commonwealth and the United descrambling so that only those consumers
States. The Massachusetts Cable Television Division subscribing to a particular level of service will receive
has launched a statewide educational campaign to the programming. A “black box” is a descrambling
combat signal theft. This pamphlet answers the most device that receives, converts and decodes the
commonly asked questions regarding theft of cable scrambled signals without proper authorization from
services. the cable operator. This means that if your neighbors
use a black box, they are receiving premium
STEALING programming without paying for it, while you pay for
What is cable theft? it every month.
CABLE SERVICE IS A
CRIME... Cable theft is the receipt of cable services without the
express authorization of a cable television operator. Does this mean that I should be wary of
advertisements for descramblers in magazines and
on the Internet?
What are the different kinds of cable theft?
Yes. Most of these advertisements contain a
Connecting to the cable system without authorization disclaimer stating that the device should not be used
from the cable operator is illegal. Splicing into a unless proper authorization is obtained from the cable
GET THE neighbor’s cable service is one example. It is also operator and used in accordance with applicable laws.
PICTURE ? illegal to receive premium or pay-per-view While it may be legal to advertise for these
programming services without authorization from converters, it can be illegal to manufacture and
your cable company. An example would be using a distribute them, and consumers can be held liable for
so-called “black box” to obtain cable programs the illegal use or the possession of such equipment.
illegally.
Why should I be concerned with cable theft?
What is a “black box”?
First, because it is illegal under state and federal law.
A “black box” is a cable television descrambler which Second, because illegal connections can lower the
is not authorized by your cable company. It is against quality of your picture. Third, because added service
the law to use a black box (a descrambler) to obtain calls, additional system maintenance and lost revenue
Massachusetts Department of
cable service in this manner. State and federal laws can increase everyone’s cable rates. Indeed, theft of
Telecommunications & Energy
prohibit the reception of cable service through the cable service costs the cable industry an estimated 5.1
Cable Television Division unauthorized use of such equipment. billion dollars per year! This increases the cable
One South Station operator’s cost of doing business and may increase
Boston, MA 02110 your rates. Consequently, the honest customer ends
617-305-3580 Why is the use of a “black box” illegal? up paying for those who illegally receive services for
1-888-MA-CBL-TV · 1-888-622-2588 free.
A cable company transmits signals to a subscriber’s
www.state.ma.us/dpu/catv home. It uses a cable television descrambler device to
control the flow of cable service. Signals are What can happen if I obtain cable service illegally?
scrambled at a main control center and transmitted
over the cable system in an encrypted form. A • Under federal law, those who are caught stealing
subscriber’s converter box then descrambles these cable can be criminally fined up to $1,000,
signals so that the viewer can watch the programming. imprisoned for up to six months, or both.
attaching a black box can alter the cable equipment anonymously and leave the name or address of
• If the violation is willful and for commercial owned by the operator and can affect reception, someone you suspect is stealing cable service.
advantage or private financial gain, federal law thereby affording the cable operator justification for a Where can I get more information on cable theft?
allows for additional fines up to $50,000. breach of contract action.
A cable operator may also pursue a civil action for You should contact your local cable operator. In
• A cable operator can also seek civil remedies or “conversion”. Under this legal theory, an individual addition, you call or can write to us at:
damages up to $10,000. who connects an unauthorized device to the operator’s
cable equipment is stealing programming that is Massachusetts Department of
• For theft of cable services valued at less than five owned by the company, resulting in damage to the Telecommunications & Energy
thousand dollars, Massachusetts law provides for company. Cable Television Division
fines of up to $3,000, imprisonment for up to 2
1/2 years, or both. Fines of up to $10,000, or One South Station
imprisonment up to 10 years are provided for Can cable operators detect cable theft? Boston, Massachusetts 02110
fraudulently obtaining services equal to or greater
than $5,000 in value. Yes. Many cable operators have equipment that can (617) 305-380
detect signal theft from outside your home. In many
instances, a technical problem, such as a neighbor’s toll free in Massachusetts at
What can happen to those who manufacture or poor reception, may point to an illegal hook-up. In 1-888-MA-CBL-TV (1-888-622-2588)
distribute converter boxes without proper this case, the illegal hook-up can generate a service
authorization? call from a neighboring subscriber. A cable technician www.state.ma.us/dpu/catv
can then determine whether the cause of the poor
• Under federal law, commercial manufacturers or reception is due to signal theft.
distributors of equipment intended to be used for
the unauthorized reception of cable service can be Additionally, federal investigations uncover illegal
criminally prosecuted. A violation of this law distributors and in the process obtain sales lists from
may result in fines of up to $50,000 or those distributors that identify all of the “black box”
imprisonment for up to 2 years, or both, and any or illegal converter purchasers. Once it obtains this
subsequent offense carries a fine up to $100,000 information, the cable operator is free to pursue all
or imprisonment up to 5 years, or both. purchasers of this illegal equipment.
• Under Massachusetts law, the illegal
manufacture or distribution of equipment What are cable companies doing to combat cable
designed to fraudulently obtain theft?
telecommunications services can result in fines of
up to $30,000, imprisonment for up to 15 years, Cable operators have joined with federal law
or both. enforcement agencies and state and local prosecutors
to identify distributors and purchasers of illegal cable
devices so that they can determine who is stealing
Does a cable operator have any other legal cable programming.
recourse?
Yes. A cable operator may be able to sue a subscriber
for breach of contract. When a subscriber signs up What can I do if I know someone who is stealing
for service he or she agrees not to tamper with, cable services?
modify, or change the cable operator’s equipment You should contact your cable operator if you know
without express authorization. Splitting cable wires or of anyone who is stealing cable service. Some cable
operators have hotlines which allow you to call