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z?d104:SN00652:@@@D at thomas.loc.gov Page 13 of 16 communication. Increases the penalties for violations. Prohibits using a telecommunications device to: (1) make or initiate any communication which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, or • indecent with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass another person; (2) make or make available obscene communication; (3) make or make available an indecent communication to minors. Provides that no person shall be held to have violated such prohibition solely for providing access or connection to a telecommunications facility, system, or network not under such person's control. Provides employers with a defense for actions by employees unless the employee's conduct is within the scope of employment and is known, authorized, or ratified by the employer. Establishes as a defense to prohibited communications that a person has taken, in good faith, reasonable, effective, and appropriate actions to prevent access by minors or has restricted access by requiring use of a verified credit card, debit account, or adult access code or personal identification number. (Sec. 504) Requires cable operators, upon request, to fully scramble or block programming to which the subscriber does not subscribe. (Sec. 505) Requires a multichannel videoprogramming distributor: (1) to fully scramble or block sexually explicit adult programming so that nonsubscribers do not receive it; and (2) until it complies with such requirement, to not provide such programming during the hours of the day when a significant number of children are likely to view it. (Sec. 506) Allows cable operators to refuse to transmit any public access or leased access program which contains obscenity, indecency, or nudity. (Sec. 507) Amends the Federal criminal code to specify that current obscenity statutes prohibit using a computer to import or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, for sale or distribution, obscene material, including material designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion or for any indecent or immoral use. (Sec. 508) Prohibits using any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce a minor to engage in prostitution or any sexual act for which any person may be criminally prosecuted. (Sec. 509) Provides that no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be held liable for any voluntary action taken to restrict access to, or to enable information content providers to restrict access to, material that the user or provider considers to be objectionable, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected. Subtitle B: Violence - Directs the FCC, if it determines that video programming distributors have not, within one year, voluntarily established rules for rating programming that contains sexual, violent, or other indecent material about which parents should be informed before it is displayed to children and voluntarily agreed to broadcast signals that contain such ratings, to: (1) establish an advisory committee to recommend guidelines and procedures for rating such programming; (2) prescribe such guidelines and procedures; and (3) prescribe rules requiring programming distributors to transmit such rating to permit parents to block inappropriate • programming. Directs the FCC, not less than two years after enactment of this Act, to require apparatus designed to receive TV signals that are shipped in interstate commerce or manufactured in the United States and that have a picture screen of 13 inches or greater http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d104:SNO0652:@@@D 12/11/96