Unauthorized Reception of Cable Service

(a)Unauthorized Interception or Receipt or Assistance in Intercepting or Receiving Service; Definition of >Assist in Intercepting or Receiving.’

(1)No person shall intercept or receive or assist in intercepting or receiving any communications service offered over a cable system, unless specifically authorized to do so by a cable operator or as may otherwise be specifically authorized by law.

(2)For the purpose of this Section, the term >assist in intercepting or receiving’ shall include the manufacture or distribution of equipment intended by the manufacturer or distributor (as the case may be) for unauthorized reception of any communications service offered over a cable system in violation of Subparagraph (1).

(b)Penalties for Willful Violation.

(1)Any person who willfully violates Subsection (a)(1) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisoned for not more than one

(1)year, or both, for the first such offense and shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree and shall be punished by a fine of not more than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) or imprisoned for not more than three

(3)years, or both, for any subsequent offense.

(2)Any person who violates Subsection (a)(1) willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or private COL9/7/2021 CH. 43 THEFT AND RELATED OFFENSES financial gain shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree and shall be punished by a fine of not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) or imprisoned for not more than three

(3)years, or both, for the first such offense and shall be guilty of a felony of the second degree and shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or imprisoned for not more than five

(5)years, or both, for any subsequent offense.

(3)For purposes of all penalties and remedies established for violations of Subsection (a)(1), the prohibited activity established herein, as it applies to each such device, shall be deemed a separate violation.