The following is a copy of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. This section covers obscene telephone communications for a commercial purpose including broadcasting obscene material.

§2G3.2. Obscene Telephone Communications for a Commercial Purpose; Broadcasting Obscene Material

(a)Base Offense Level: 12

(b)Specific Offense Characteristics

(1)If a person who received the telephonic communication was less than eighteen years of age, or if a broadcast was made between six o’clock in the morning and eleven o’clock at night, increase by 4 levels.

(2)If 6 plus the offense level from the table in §2B1.1 (Theft, Property Destruction, and Fraud) corresponding to the volume of commerce attributable to the defendant is greater than the offense level determined above, increase to that offense level.

Commentary

Statutory Provisions: 18 U.S.C. §§ 1464, 1468; 47 U.S.C. § 223(b)(1)(A).

Background. Subsection (b)(1) provides an enhancement where an obscene telephonic communication was received by a minor less than 18 years of age or where a broadcast was made during a time when such minors were likely to receive it. Subsection (b)(2) provides an enhancement for large-scale "dial-a-porn" or obscene broadcasting operations that results in an offense level comparable to the offense level for such operations under §2G3.1 (Importing, Mailing, or Transporting Obscene Matter; Transferring Obscene Matter to a Minor). The extent to which the obscene material was distributed is approximated by the volume of commerce attributable to the defendant.

Historical Note: Effective November 1, 1989 (see Appendix C, amendment 164). Amended effective November 1, 2000 (see Appendix C, amendment 592); November 1, 2001 (see Appendix C, amendment 617). A former §2G3.2 (Obscene or Indecent Telephone Communications), effective November 1, 1987, was deleted effective November 1, 1989 (see Appendix C, amendment 164).

(EFFECTIVE November 1, 2010)

United States Sentencing Commission