47 USC § 559 - Obscene programming

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t47/s559"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "47 USC § 559 - Obscene programming"
title_number: 47
title_name: "TELECOMMUNICATIONS"
section_number: "559"
section_name: "Obscene programming"
chapter_number: 5
chapter_name: "WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION"
subchapter_number: "V–A"
subchapter_name: "CABLE COMMUNICATIONS"
part_number: "IV"
part_name: "Miscellaneous Provisions"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2025-08-11"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VI, § 639, as added Pub. L. 98–549, § 2, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2801; amended Pub. L. 104–104, title V, § 503, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 136.)"
---


# § 559. Obscene programming

Whoever transmits over any cable system any matter which is obscene or otherwise unprotected by the Constitution of the United States shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.

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**Source Credit**: (June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VI, § 639, as added Pub. L. 98–549, § 2, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2801; amended Pub. L. 104–104, title V, § 503, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 136.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996— substituted “under title 18” for “not more than $10,000”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 60 days after , except where otherwise expressly provided, see , set out as a note under .