U.S. Supreme Court, (April 05, 1954)
Docket number: 117
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U.S. Supreme Court F. C. C. v. AMERICAN BROADCASTING CO., 347 U.S. 284 (1954) 347 U.S. 284
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION v. AMERICAN BROADCASTING CO., INC. APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK.* No. 117. Argued February 1, 1954. Decided April 5, 1954. Regulations of the Federal Communications Commission providing for the denial of licenses to radio and television broadcasting stations which broadcast so-called "give-away" programs, in which prizes are given to persons selected by chance who answer certain questions correctly but who are not required to contribute any money or other valuable consideration, held invalid as going beyond the scope of 18 U.S.C. 1304 and thus exceeding the rule-making power of the Commission. Pp. 285-297. (a) Unless such "give-away" programs are illegal under 18 U.S.C. 1304, the Commission cannot employ the statute to make them so by agency action. Pp. 289-290. (b) The contribution of money or other valuable consideration by the contestants is an essential element of the offense proscribed by 18 U.S.C. 1304, which forbids the broadcasting of "any lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme, offering prizes dependent in whole or in part upon lot or chance." Pp. 290-291. (c) The increased advertising value of a "give-away" program resulting from the requirement, direct or indirect, that home contestants listen to the program does not constitute a valuable consideration for purposes of 18 U.S.C. 1304. Pp. 291-295. (d) Section 1304 of 18 U.S.C. is a penal statute, and it must be construed strictly. P. 296. 110 F. Supp. 374, affirmed. [Footnote *] Together with No. 118, Federal Communications Commission v. National Broadcasting Co., Inc., and No. 119, Federal Communications Commission v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., also on appeal from the same court. The District Court enjoined enforcement of certain provisions of regulations of the Federal Communications Commission relating to the broadcasting of so-called "give-away" programs. 110 F. Supp. 374. On direct [Page 347 U.S. 284, 285] appeal to this Court under 28 U.S.C. 1253 and 2101 (b), affirmed, p. 297. J. Roger Wollenberg argued the cause for appellant. With him on the brief was Daniel R. Ohlbaum. Alfred McCormack argued the cause for appellee in No. 117. With him on the brief was George B. Turner. Paul W. Williams argued the cause for appellee in No. 118. With him on the brief was Thomas E. Ervin and Dudley B. Tenney. Max Freund argued the cause for appellee in No. 119. With him on the brief was Ralph F. Colin. MR. CHIEF JUSTICE WARREN delivered the opinion of the Court. These cases are before us on direct appeal from the decision of a three-judge District Court in the Southern District of New York, enjoining the Federal Communications Commission from enforcing certain provisions in its rules relating to the broadcasting of so-called "give-away" programs. The question presented is whether the enjoined provisions correctly interpret 1304 of the United States Criminal Code, formerly 316 of the Communications Act of 1934. This statute prohibits the broadcasting of ". . . any lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme, offering prizes dependent in whole or in part upon lot or chance . . . ."[Footnote 1] The appellees are national radio and television broadcasting companies. They are, in addition, the operators [Page 347 U.S. 284, 286] of radio and television stations licensed by the Commission. Each of the appellees broadcasts, over its own and affiliated stations, certain programs popularly known as "give-away" programs. Generally characteristic of this type of program is the distribution of prizes to home listeners, selected wholly or in part on the basis of chance, as an award for correctly solving a given problem or answering a question.[Footnote 2] The rules challenged in this proceeding, 3.192, 3.292, and 3.656 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations, [Page 347 U.S. 284, 287] were designed to prevent the broadcast of such programs.[Footnote 3] The rules are identically worded and apply, respectively, to standard radio broadcasting (AM), FM radio broadcasting, [Page 347 U.S. 284, 288] and television broadcasting. Paragraph (a) of each rule provides that "An application for construction permit, license, renewal of license, or any other authorization for the operation of a broadcast station, will not be granted where the applicant proposes to follow or continue to follow a policy or practice of broadcasting . . .," programs of a sort forbidden by 1304. Paragraph (b) provides that a program will fall within the ban". . . if in connection with such program a prize consisting of money or thing of value is awarded to any person whose selection is dependent in whole or in part upon lot or chance, if as a condition of winning or competing for such prize: "(1) Such winner or winners are required to furnish any money or thing of value or are required to have in their possession any product sold, manufactured, furnished or distributed by a sponsor of a program broadcast on the station in question; or "(2) Such winner or winners are required to be listening to or viewing the program in question on a radio or television receiver; or "(3) Such winner or winners are required to answer correctly a question, the answer to which is given on a program broadcast over the station in question or where aid to answering the question correctly is given on a program broadcast over the station in question. For the purposes of this provision the broadcasting of the question to be answered over the radio station on a previous program will be considered as an aid in answering the question correctly; or "(4) Such winner or winners are required to answer the phone in a prescribed manner or with a prescribed phrase, or are required to write a letter in a prescribed manner or containing a prescribed phrase, if the prescribed manner of answering the [Page 347 U.S. 284, 289] phone or writing the letter or the prescribed phrase to be used over the phone or in the letter (or an aid in ascertaining the prescribed phrase or the prescribed manner of answering the phone or writing the letter) is, or has been, broadcast over the station in question." After promulgation of the rules, the present actions were brought by the appellees.[Footnote 4] The District Court sustained the Commission's general authority to adopt such rules, and sustained subdivision (1) of paragraph (b) as a correct interpretation of 1304. But, with one dissent, the court held that subdivisions (2), (3), and (4) were beyond the scope of 1304 and hence invalid. The court was of the view that 1304 applied only to contest programs requiring contestants to contribute a "price" or "thing of value."[Footnote 5] We noted probable jurisdiction and consolidated the cases for argument.[Footnote 6] Like the court below, we have no doubt that the Commission, concurrently with the Department of Justice, has power to enforce 1304. Indeed, the Commission would be remiss in its duties if it failed, in the exercise of its licensing authority, to aid in implementing the statute, either by general rule or by individual decisions.[Footnote 7] [Page 347 U.S. 284, 290] But the Commission's power in this respect is limited by the scope of the statute. Unless the "give-away" programs involved here are illegal under 1304, the Commission cannot employ the statute to make them so by agency action. Thus, reduced to its simplest terms, the issue before us is whether this type of program constitutes a "lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme" proscribed by 1304. All the parties agree that there are three essential elements of a "lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme": (1) the distribution of prizes; (2) according to chance; (3) for a consideration.[Footnote 8] They also agree that prizes on the programs under review are distributed according to [Page 347 U.S. 284, 291] chance, but they fall out on the question of whether the home contestant furnishes the necessary consideration. The Commission contends that there is such consideration; in its brief, it urges that these programs". . . are nothing but age old lotteries in a slightly new form. The new form results from the fact that the schemes here are illicit appendages to legitimate advertising. The classic lottery looked to advance cash payments by the participants as the source of profit; the radio give-away looks to the equally material benefits to stations and advertisers from an increased radio audience to be exposed to advertising." It contends that consideration in the form of money or a thing of value is not essential, and that a commercial benefit to the promoter satisfies the consideration requirement:". . . Where a scheme of chance is successfully designed to reap profits for its promoter, there will ultimately be consideration flowing from the participants, and it is of no consequence whether such consideration be direct or indirect. In either event, the gambling spirit - the lure of obtaining something for nothing or almost nothing - is exploited for the benefit of the promoter of the scheme." As against this claim the appellees insist that something more is required than just a benefit to the promoter; that the participation of the home audience by merely listening to a broadcast does not constitute the necessary consideration. Section 1304 itself does not define the type of consideration needed for a "lottery, gift enterprise, or similar [Page 347 U.S. 284, 292] scheme." Nor do the postal lottery statutes from which this language was taken.[Footnote 9] The legislative history of 1304 and the postal statutes is similarly unilluminating.[Footnote 10] For guidance, therefore, we must look primarily to American decisions, both judicial and administrative, construing comparable antilottery legislation. Enforcing such legislation has long been a difficult task. Law enforcement officers, federal and state, have been plagued with as many types of lotteries as the seemingly inexhaustible ingenuity of their promoters could devise in their efforts to circumvent the law. When their schemes reached the courts, the decision, of necessity, [Page 347 U.S. 284, 293] usually turned on whether the scheme, on its own peculiar facts, constituted a lottery. So varied have been the techniques used by promoters to conceal the joint factors of prize, chance, and consideration, and so clever have they been in applying these techniques to feigned as well as legitimate business activities, that it has often been difficult to apply the decision of one case to the facts of another. And so it is here. We find no decisions precisely in point on the facts of the cases before us. The courts have defined consideration in various ways, but so far as we are aware none has ever held that a contestant's listening at home to a radio or television program satisfies the consideration requirement.[Footnote 11] Some courts - with vigorous protest from others - have held that the requirement is satisfied by a "raffle" scheme giving free chances to persons who go to a store to register in order to participate in the drawing of a prize,[Footnote 12] and similarly by a "bank night" scheme giving free chances to persons who [Page 347 U.S. 284, 294] gather in front of a motion picture theatre in order to participate in a drawing held for the primary benefit of the paid patrons of the theatre.[Footnote 13] But such cases differ substantially from the cases before us. To be eligible for a prize on the "give-away" programs involved here, not a single home contestant is required to purchase anything or pay an admission price or leave his home to visit the promoter's place of business; the only effort required for participation is listening.[Footnote 14] We believe that it would be stretching the statute to the breaking point to give it an interpretation that would make such programs a crime. Particularly is this true when through the years the Post Office Department and the Department of Justice have consistently given the words "lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme" a contrary administrative interpretation. Thus the Solicitor of the Post Office Department has repeatedly ruled that the postal lottery laws do not preclude the mailing of circulars advertising the type of "give-away" program here under attack.[Footnote 15] Similarly, the Attorney General - [Page 347 U.S. 284, 295] charged directly with the enforcement of federal criminal laws - has refused to bring criminal action against broadcasters of such programs.[Footnote 16] And in this very action, it is noteworthy that the Department of Justice has not joined the Commission in appealing the decision below. [Page 347 U.S. 284, 296] It is true, as contended by the Commission, that these are not criminal cases, but it is a criminal statute that we must interpret. There cannot be one construction for the Federal Communications Commission and another for the Department of Justice. If we should give 1304 the broad construction urged by the Commission, the same construction would likewise apply in criminal cases. We do not believe this construction can be sustained. Not only does it lack support in the decided cases, judicial and administrative, but also it would do violence to the well-established principle that penal statutes are to be construed strictly. It is apparent that these so-called "give-away" programs have long been a matter of concern to the Federal Communications Commission; that it believes these programs to be the old lottery evil under a new guise, and that they should be struck down as illegal devices appealing to cupidity and the gambling spirit. It unsuccessfully sought to have the Department of Justice take criminal action against them.[Footnote 17] Likewise, without success, it urged Congress to amend the law to specifically prohibit them.[Footnote 18] The Commission now seeks to accomplish the same result through agency regulations. In doing so, the Commission has overstepped the boundaries of interpretation and hence has exceeded its rule-making power. [Page 347 U.S. 284, 297] Regardless of the doubts held by the Commission and others as to the social value of the programs here under consideration, such administrative expansion of 1304 does not provide the remedy.[Footnote 19] The judgments are Affirmed. MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS took no part in the decision of these cases. FootnotesFootnote 1 18 U.S.C. 1304 (derived from former 316 of the Communications Act of 1934, 48 Stat. 1088-1089, repealed by 62 Stat. 862, 866): "Whoever broadcasts by means of any radio station for which a license is required by any law of the United States, or whoever, operating any such station, knowingly permits the broadcasting of, any advertisement of or information concerning any lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme, offering prizes dependent in whole or in part upon lot or chance, or any list of the prizes drawn or awarded by [Page 347 U.S. 284, 286] means of any such lottery, gift enterprise, or scheme, whether said list contains any part or all of such prizes, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. "Each day's broadcasting shall constitute a separate offense." Footnote 2 Examples of the "give-away" programs involved here are "Stop the Music" (American Broadcasting Company), "What's My Name" (National Broadcasting Company), and "Sing It Again" (Columbia Broadcasting System). "Stop the Music" is described in American's complaint in No. 117 as follows: The home contestants are called on the telephone during the program. On the radio version, home contestants are selected at random from telephone directories. On the television version, home contestants are selected by lot from among those listeners who express in advance, through postcards sent to the network, their desire to participate. On both the radio and television versions, however, the home contestant is not required to be listening to the broadcast at the time he is called in order to participate. When called, the home contestant is asked to give the title of a musical selection that has just been played. In the event he was not listening, or for some other reason desires to have the tune repeated, the master of ceremonies hums or sings it to him over the telephone. If he answers correctly, he receives a merchandise prize; if not, he gets a less valuable "consolation" prize and a member of the studio audience is then given an opportunity to win the merchandise prize by identifying the same tune. If the home contestant answers correctly, he receives, in addition to the merchandise prize, an opportunity to identify another tune, called the "Mystery Melody." If he identifies this tune, he wins the "jackpot" prize, usually valued at several thousand dollars. Should he fail to identify the "Mystery Melody," another home contestant is called and the process is repeated. Additions [Page 347 U.S. 284, 287] to the "jackpot" prize are made each week so long as the "Mystery Melody" remains unidentified. "What's My Name" is described in National's complaint in No. 118 as follows: Prizes are awarded to contestants for correctly identifying famous persons on the basis of clues given by the master of ceremonies and in a short skit performed by professional actors. All but one of the contestants on the program are chosen from members of the studio audience. The remaining contestant is chosen at random from postcards sent in by listeners, and is called on the telephone during the program. For answering the telephone, he is awarded a watchband manufactured by the sponsor of the program and is also given the opportunity to win a valuable "jackpot" prize in Government bonds by identifying the famous person described in the "jackpot" clues. If the home contestant fails to make a correct identification, the amount of the "jackpot" is added to the "jackpot" for the following week's program. The subject of the "jackpot" clues, however, is changed every week. "Sing It Again" is described in Columbia's complaint in No. 119 as follows: Performers sing a popular song and then repeat it but this time with parody lyrics describing some person, place, or event. Contestants, selected at random from telephone directories, are called by long distance telephone during the program. If the contestant correctly identifies the subject described by the parody lyrics, he wins a merchandise prize and an opportunity to win a "jackpot" prize by identifying the "Phantom Voice," the voice of a famous but unrevealed person. Clues as to the identity of the "Phantom Voice" are given on the program and on other programs broadcast over the same network. The "jackpot" is increased week by week until the correct identification is made. If the home contestant fails to identify the subject of the parody lyrics, he receives a "consolation prize," and a member of the studio audience is given the opportunity to answer and win the merchandise prize. Footnote 3 47 CFR, 1952 Cum. Supp., 3.192, 3.292, 3.656. The language of the rules is broad enough to cover contest programs drawing contestants solely from members of the studio audience. In the court below, however, the Commission took the position that such coverage was not intended, and the controversy was delimited to programs involving the distribution of prizes to contestants participating from their homes. 110 F. Supp. 374, 381. Footnote 4 The actions were brought under 402 (a) of the Communications Act of 1934, 48 Stat. 1093, 47 U.S.C. 402 (a); 28 U.S.C. 1336, 1398, 2284, 2321-2325; and 10 of the Administrative Procedure Act, 60 Stat. 243, 5 U.S.C. 1009. Pub. L. No. 901, 81st Cong., 2d Sess., 64 Stat. 1129, 5 U.S.C. 1031, has since changed the procedure under 402 (a), but is inapplicable to actions commenced prior to its enactment. Footnote 5 110 F. Supp. 374. Footnote 6 346 U.S. 808. Footnote 7 The Commission is authorized by 4 (i) of the Communications Act to "make such rules and regulations, and issue such orders, . . . as may be necessary in the execution of its functions"; by 303 (r) to "Make such rules and regulations and prescribe such restrictions and conditions, not inconsistent with law, as may be necessary to [Page 347 U.S. 284, 290] carry out the provisions of this chapter"; by 307 (a) and 309 (a) to grant station licenses and license renewals "if public convenience, interest, or necessity" would thereby be served; by 312 (a) to revoke a license for a violation of any regulation authorized by the Act. 48 Stat. 1068, 47 U.S.C. 154 (i); 50 Stat. 191, 47 U.S.C. 303 (r); 48 Stat. 1083, 47 U.S.C. 307 (a); 48 Stat. 1085, 47 U.S.C. 309 (a); 48 Stat. 1086-1087, 47 U.S.C. 312 (a). The "public interest, convenience, or necessity" standard for the issuance of licenses would seem to imply a requirement that the applicant be law-abiding. In any event, the standard is sufficiently broad to permit the Commission to consider the applicant's past or proposed violation of a federal criminal statute especially designed to bar certain conduct by operators of radio and television stations. And if this consideration is a proper one in individual cases, there is no reason why it may not be stated in advance by the Commission in interpretative regulations defining the prohibited conduct with greater clarity. See National Broadcasting Co. v. United States, 319 U.S. 190, 222-224; cf. Southern Steamship Co. v. National Labor Relations Board, 316 U.S. 31, 46-47. Footnote 8 A typical "lottery" is a scheme in which tickets are sold and prizes are awarded among the ticket holders by lot. See Stone v. Mississippi, . A typical "gift enterprise" differs from this in that it involves the purchase of merchandise or other property; the purchaser receives, in addition to the merchandise or other property, a "free" chance in a drawing. See Horner v. United States, 147 U.S. 449. But whatever may be the factual differences between [Page 347 U.S. 284, 291] a "lottery," a "gift enterprise," and a "similar scheme," the traditional tests of chance, prize, and consideration are applicable to each. We are aware of no decision, federal or state, which has distinguished among them on the basis of their legal elements. Footnote 9 Section 1304 is one of five sections - 1301 through 1305 - which constitute "Chapter 61 - Lotteries" of Title 18. Section 1305, added in 1950, exempts certain "fishing contests" from the operation of the other four sections. Section 1301 prohibits the importing or transporting of lottery tickets; 1302, the mailing of lottery tickets and related matter; 1303, the participation in lottery schemes by postmasters and postal employees; and 1304, the broadcasting of lottery information. These four sections use the same terminology - "any lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme, offering prizes dependent in whole or in part upon lot or chance." This language first appeared in the 1909 amendments to the federal lottery laws. 35 Stat. 1129, 1130, 1136. It was adopted verbatim in 316 of the Communications Act of 1934, which was the first federal statute to ban the broadcasting of lotteries. With only slight modifications not material here, 316 became 1304 of the Criminal Code in the 1948 revision of Title 18. For the early history of lotteries in this country, see Spofford, Lotteries in American History, at p. 171 of 1892 Report of American Historical Association, S. Misc. Doc. No. 57, 52d Cong., 2d Sess. Footnote 10 See S. Rep. No. 1620, 80th Cong., 2d Sess. (1948); H. R. Rep. No. 304, 80th Cong., 1st Sess., p. A99 (1947); S. Rep. No. 781, 73d Cong., 2d Sess., p. 8 (1934); H. R. Rep. No. 1850, 73d Cong., 2d Sess. (1934); H. R. Rep. No. 1918, 73d Cong., 2d Sess., p. 49 (1934); S. Rep. No. 564, 72d Cong., 1st Sess., p. 10 (1932); H. R. Rep. No. 221, 72d Cong., 1st Sess., p. 8 (1932); S. Rep. No. 10, Part 1, 60th Cong., 1st Sess., p. 23 (1908); H. R. Rep. No. 2, Part 1, 60th Cong., 1st Sess., p. 22 (1908). Footnote 11 In the only previous decision on the legality of a "give-away" program of the type involved here, a state trial court held that the program did not constitute a lottery because the consideration element was lacking. Clef, Inc. v. Peoria Broadcasting Co., Equity No. 21368, Circuit Court of Peoria County, Illinois (1939). Similarly, cases under the postal lottery laws (see note 9, supra) appear to be uniform in requiring a "valuable" consideration for a "lottery, gift enterprise, or similar scheme." See Garden City Chamber of Commerce, Inc. v. Wagner, 100 F. Supp. 769 (E. D. N. Y.), stay denied,Try vLex for FREE for 3 days
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