47 U.S.C. § 509 : US Code - Section 509: Prohibited practices in contests of knowledge, skill, or chance

Search 47 U.S.C. § 509 : US Code - Section 509: Prohibited practices in contests of knowledge, skill, or chance

(a) Influencing, prearranging, or predetermining outcome
It shall be unlawful for any person, with intent to deceive the
listening or viewing public -
(1) To supply to any contestant in a purportedly bona fide
contest of intellectual knowledge or intellectual skill any
special and secret assistance whereby the outcome of such contest
will be in whole or in part prearranged or predetermined.
(2) By means of persuasion, bribery, intimidation, or
otherwise, to induce or cause any contestant in a purportedly
bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge or intellectual skill
to refrain in any manner from using or displaying his knowledge
or skill in such contest, whereby the outcome thereof will be in
whole or in part prearranged or predetermined.
(3) To engage in any artifice or scheme for the purpose of
prearranging or predetermining in whole or in part the outcome of
a purportedly bona fide contest of intellectual knowledge,
intellectual skill, or chance.
(4) To produce or participate in the production for
broadcasting of, to broadcast or participate in the broadcasting
of, to offer to a licensee for broadcasting, or to sponsor, any
radio program, knowing or having reasonable ground for believing
that, in connection with a purportedly bona fide contest of
intellectual knowledge, intellectual skill, or chance
constituting any part of such program, any person has done or is
going to do any act or thing referred to in paragraph (1), (2),
or (3) of this subsection.
(5) To conspire with any other person or persons to do any act
or thing prohibited by paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this
subsection, if one or more of such persons do any act to effect
the object of such conspiracy.
(b) "Contest" and "the listening or viewing public" defined
For the purposes of this section -
(1) The term "contest" means any contest broadcast by a radio
station in connection with which any money or any other thing of
value is offered as a prize or prizes to be paid or presented by
the program sponsor or by any other person or persons, as
announced in the course of the broadcast.
(2) The term "the listening or viewing public" means those
members of the public who, with the aid of radio receiving sets,
listen to or view programs broadcast by radio stations.
(c) Penalties
Whoever violates subsection (a) of this section shall be fined
not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or
both.