1996—Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 104–104 inserted “or direct-to-home satellite services,” after “programming,”.

1994—Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(25), substituted “subsection (e)” for “subsection (d)”.

Subsec. (e)(3)(A). Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(26), substituted “paragraph (4) of this subsection” for “paragraph (4) of subsection (d)”.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(27), redesignated subsec. (f), relating to universal encryption standard, as (g).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103–414, § 304(a)(15), which directed substitution of “The Commission” for “within 6 months after November 16, 1988, the Federal Communications Commission”, was executed by making the substitution in text which read “Within 6 months” rather than “within 6 months” in introductory provisions to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(27), redesignated subsec. (f), relating to universal encryption standard, as (g). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (h).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 103–414, § 303(a)(27), (28), redesignated subsec. (g) as (h) and substituted “subsection (g)” for “subsection (f)”.

1988—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 100–626 added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e).

Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 100–667, § 205(1), which directed the addition of par. (6) to subsec. (c), was executed to subsec. (d) to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the intervening redesignation of subsec. (c) as (d) by Pub. L. 100–626.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–667, § 205(2)–(12), which directed the amendment of subsec. (d)(1) to (4) of this section, was executed to subsec. (e)(1) to (4) of this section, see below, to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the intervening redesignation of subsec. (d) as (e) by Pub. L. 100–626.

Pub. L. 100–626 redesignated subsec. (d) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 100–667, § 205(2), substituted “$2,000” for “$1,000”.

Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 100–667, § 205(3), substituted “$50,000 or imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both, for the first such conviction and shall be fined not more than $100,000 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years” for “$25,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, for the first such conviction and shall be fined not more than $50,000 or imprisoned for not more than 2 years”.

Subsec. (e)(3)(A). Pub. L. 100–667, § 205(4), inserted “or paragraph (4) of subsection (d)” before “may bring”.

Subsec. (e)(3)(B). Pub. L. 100–667, § 205(5)–(8), struck out “may” after “The court” and substituted “may grant” for “grant” in cl. (i), “may award” for “award” in cl. (ii), and “shall direct” for “direct” in cl. (iii).

Subsec. (e)(3)(C)(i)(II). Pub. L. 100–667, § 205(9), inserted “of subsection (a)” after “violation”, substituted “$1,000” for “$250”, and inserted before period at end “, and for each violation of paragraph (4) of this subsection involved in the action an aggrieved party may recover statutory damages in a sum not less than $10,000, or more than $100,000, as the court considers just”.

Subsec. (e)(3)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 100–667, § 205(10), substituted “$100,000 for each violation of subsection (a)” for “$50,000”.

Subsec. (e)(3)(C)(iii). Pub. L. 100–667, § 205(11), substituted “$250” for “$100”.

Subsec. (e)(4). Pub. L. 100–667, § 205(12), added par. (4) and struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: “The importation, manufacture, sale, or distribution of equipment by any person with the intent of its use to assist in any activity prohibited by subsection (a) shall be subject to penalties and remedies under this subsection to the same extent and in the same manner as a person who has engaged in such prohibited activity.”

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 100–667, § 204, added subsec. (f) relating to universal encryption standard.

Pub. L. 100–626 redesignated subsec. (e), relating to rights, obligations, and liabilities under other laws, as (f).

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 100–667, § 204, added subsec. (g).

1984—Pub. L. 98–549, § 5(a), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsecs. (b) to (e).

1982—Pub. L. 97–259 struck out “broadcast or” after “communication which is”, substituted “any station” for “amateurs or others”, struck out “or” after “general public,”, and substituted “ships, aircraft, vehicles, or persons in distress, or which is transmitted by an amateur radio station operator or by a citizens band radio operator” for “ships in distress”.

1968—Pub. L. 90–351 inserted “Except as authorized by chapter 119, title 18”, designated existing provisions as cls. (1) to (6), inserted “radio” before “communication” in second and fourth sentences, struck out “wire or” before “radio” in third sentence, and substituted “intercepted” for “obtained” in fourth sentence.

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–667 effective Jan. 1, 1989, see section 206 of Pub. L. 100–667, set out as an Effective Date note under section 119 of Title 17, Copyrights.

Pub. L. 98–549, § 5(b), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2803, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the effective date of this Act [Dec. 29, 1984].”

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–549 effective 60 days after Oct. 30, 1984, except where otherwise expressly provided, see section 9(a) of Pub. L. 98–549, set out as an Effective Date note under section 521 of this title.