(a) It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to make or use any unauthorized connection, whether physically, electrically, acoustically, inductively or otherwise, with any part of a franchised cable television system for the purpose of enabling such person, firm, or corporation, or others, to receive or use any television signal, radio signal, picture, program or sound, without payment to the owner of the system.

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class C misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $50
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 7-59-108

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) It is unlawful for any person, without the consent of the franchise owner, to willfully transfer with, remove, or injure in any manner, cables, wires, or equipment used for the distribution of television signals, radio signals, pictures, programs or sound.
(c) Any person who willfully violates this section commits a Class C misdemeanor.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to licensed and certified electrical contractors while performing usual and ordinary service in accordance with recognized standards.
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