Stealing cable TV is a crime
Active theft occurs when someone knowingly and intentionally makes an illegal physical connection to the cable system in his or her area. Active theft also occurs when someone knowingly and intentionally attaches equipment (i.e., black boxes, descramblers, decoders, etc.) for the unauthorized receipt of cable services. Passive theft occurs when a consumer receives services due to faulty cable operator procedures.
Why is it illegal?
The Federal Communications Commission released a public notice in November 1994, stating the use of cable descramblers not authorized by cable systems is a violation of federal law. While laws vary from state to state, according to the Telecom Act of 1996, cable theft is a crime punishable by both hefty fines and jail time.
Sentences in federal and state theft of service cases have ranged from probation to 16 years in prison. Fines and restitution have ranged from several hundred dollars to $2.7 million.
How widespread is it?
Overall average percentages of theft are 11.48 percent for basic service, and 9.23 percent for premium service. Charter’s local internal audits currently in progress indicate unauthorized services being received are high and very concerning to the company.
How much does it cost the cable company?
Based on a 1999 survey by the National Cable Television Association, the cable industry loses an average of $6.6 billion in unrealized revenue annually.
This does not even include include unauthorized reception of pay-per-view programming. In 1996, law enforcement agencies seized more than 500,000 devices. Analysis of the units showed 80 percent of them were capable of illegally receiving pay-per-view services.
Does it also affect the consumer?
Yes! Cable piracy affects the picture quality of the entire system by weakening the signal. Poor picture quality increases service calls and other system maintenance, raising costs and putting pressure on cable rates.
Charter Communications, as well as other cable companies, tackles the costs of inflation, rising programming fees, local franchise fees and other costs to keep quality cable television service affordable for everyone. It’s the same situation as shoplifting. Just as retail stores must adjust their prices to cover the losses from shoplifting, cable rates must be adjusted to cover the cost of signal theft, not to mention the cost associated with criminal investigation and prosecution.
Even more serious, lives can be endangered by the shoddy work of cable thieves.
How can I report cable theft?
Charter Communications has initiated a comprehensive program to attack the problem of cable theft throughout the area. The program includes consumer education, a house-by-house audit of the cable system and criminal and civil prosecutions where appropriate.
Charter Communications urges anyone receiving cable services for which they are not paying to call the local office at 931-668-5343 as soon as possible. Charter Communications will adjust their account or arrange for the services to be disconnected, no questions asked. The company will not charge for back service.