18 U.S.C. § 1464
Section 1464 · Broadcasting obscene language
Amended 2 times on record
Applied in 75 court decisions — leading case Federal Communications Commission v. Fox Television Stations, Inc. (2009)
Most recently applied in Gray Television, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission (March 2025)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
Whoever utters any obscene, indecent, or profane language by means of radio communication shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on sections 326 and 501 of title 47, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radio-telegraphs (June 19, 1934, ch. 652, §§326, 501, 48 Stat. 1091, 1100).
Section consolidates last sentence of section 326 with penalty provision of section 501 both of title 47, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with changes in phraseology necessary to effect the consolidation.
Section 501 of title 47, U.S.C., 1940 ed., is to remain, also, in said title 47, as it relates to other sections therein.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.
Obscene Language; Promulgation of Regulations
Federal Communications Commission to promulgate regulations by Jan. 31, 1989, in accordance with this section to enforce this section on a 24 hour per day basis, see section 608 of Pub. L. 100–459, set out as a note under section 303 of Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs.