WTF - legal to own/use cable descramblers ?!

[rh71]

Check out this little blurb:

Yes - cable descramblers are legal.

The Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 and the Telecommunications Act of 1996 makes it very clear that you are allowed to own and use third party cable boxes.

You may view the FCC FAQ concerning this Act at:

http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/News_Releases/nrcb4009.txt

In this text you will find that it says:
"Cable operators may not prevent customers from using their own cable box if such equipment is technically compatible with the cable system."

 

[Pliablemoose]

Like owning your own phone...

 

[FoBoT]

yeah, so
that doesn't mean you don't have to pay for channels you use/receive

just because it is legal (if that stuff is true) to own the descrambler box, that doesn't mean you can recieve/view pay channels for free, it isn't the same thing

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
yeah, so
that doesn't mean you don't have to pay for channels you use/receive

just because it is legal (if that stuff is true) to own the descrambler box, that doesn't mean you can recieve/view pay channels for free, it isn't the same thing

Actually if you read the quote closer, it's stating you can USE it.

 

[911paramedic]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
yeah, so
that doesn't mean you don't have to pay for channels you use/receive

just because it is legal (if that stuff is true) to own the descrambler box, that doesn't mean you can recieve/view pay channels for free, it isn't the same thing

Just like owning a gun, you can own it, but shooting it in your house is frowned upon.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Well...the FCC pretty much says that when a circuit is on your property, you own it. It's not like you're totally stealing cable...you already have to pay a monthly fee.... I don't agree with either side because I don't watch enough TV...the only cable channel I watch is Comedy Central...the rest I care about, I can pick up with an antenna.

 

[BooneRebel]

Originally posted by: rh71
Check out this little blurb:

Yes - cable descramblers are legal.

The Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 and the Telecommunications Act of 1996 makes it very clear that you are allowed to own and use third party cable boxes.

You may view the FCC FAQ concerning this Act at:

http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Cable/News_Releases/nrcb4009.txt

In this text you will find that it says:
"Cable operators may not prevent customers from using their own cable box if such equipment is technically compatible with the cable system."

I think there is a distinction between a cable box and a cable descrambler. I remember a few years ago our local cable company sold the box with the subscription. Cancel cable, keep the box. Decide you want cable again, call up the company, and they hook it back up. No charge for use of my cable box, but I still have to pay for the service. The phone is a good analogy. The phone company no longer charges for phones (they used to sell them!), but I still have to pay them for service if I want to use my phone for anything.

 

[tm37]

It is legal to own a descambler and use it BUT YOu have to call the cable company and pay for the services you are receiving.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: tm37
It is legal to own a descambler and use it BUT YOu have to call the cable company and pay for the services you are receiving.

Exactly. If you are paying for the service you are receiving, then you can have a descrambler and legally use it. If you only have basic cable and you are using a descrambler to get premium channels, you are still breaking the law.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: tm37
It is legal to own a descambler and use it BUT YOu have to call the cable company and pay for the services you are receiving.

Exactly. If you are paying for the service you are receiving, then you can have a descrambler and legally use it.

So what the law is saying: you can use the descrambler on a signal that should already be coming in unscrambled.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

I do get cable channels that I do not pay for. But that's because the ATTBI installer who installed both cable internet and cable television, after talking about work and developing a bond, conveniently left the filter off the cable TV. No complaints here.

 

[blakeatwork]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
I do get cable channels that I do not pay for. But that's because the ATTBI installer who installed both cable internet and cable television, after talking about work and developing a bond, conveniently left the filter off the cable TV. No complaints here.

Refresh my memory... but weren't you complaining about another user on here that inquired as to the validity of using a descrambler?? And yet, you, the paragon of virtue, fesses up to getting unpaid for channels???