Us Code § 1468 - Distributing obscene material by cable or subscription television
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 1468 — Distributing obscene material by cable or subscription television, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 1468. Distributing obscene material by cable or subscription television
(a) Whoever knowingly utters any obscene language or distributes any obscene matter by means of cable television or subscription services on television, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or by a fine in accordance with this title, or both.
(b) As used in this section, the term "distribute" means to send, transmit, retransmit, telecast, broadcast, or cablecast, including by wire, microwave, or satellite, or to produce or provide material for such distribution.
(c) Nothing in this chapter, or the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, or any other provision of Federal law, is intended to interfere with or preempt the power of the States, including political subdivisions thereof, to regulate the uttering of language that is obscene or otherwise unprotected by the Constitution or the distribution of matter that is obscene or otherwise unprotected by the Constitution, of any sort, by means of cable television or subscription services on television.
(Added Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7523(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4501.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984, referred to in subsec. (c), is Pub. L. 98–549, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2779, which is classified principally to subchapter V–A (§521 et seq.) of chapter 5 of Title 47, Telecommunications. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1984 Amendment note set out under section 609 of Title 47 and Tables.
About This Section
18 U.S.C. § 1468 is part of Title 18 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 18 U.S.C. § 1468. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.