sable communications fcc argued april decided june section communications act amended bans indecent well obscene interstate commercial telephone messages commonly known predecessor provision sought restrict minors access federal communications commission fcc lengthy proceedings promulgated regulations laying means sponsors screen underaged callers sable communications california offers sexually oriented prerecorded telephone messages callers outside los angeles metropolitan area brought suit district claiming obscenity indecency provisions unconstitutional chiefly first fourteenth amendments seeking injunction enjoining fcc justice department initiating criminal investigation prosecution civil action administrative proceeding statute declaratory judgment denied sable request preliminary injunction enforcement ban obscene telephone messages rejecting argument statute unconstitutional created national standard obscenity however issued injunction regard indecent speech provision holding provision overbroad unconstitutional narrowly drawn achieve legitimate state interest protecting children exposure indecent messages held section unconstitutionally prohibit interstate transmission obscene commercial telephone messages protection first amendment extend obscene speech addition contravene contemporary community standards requirement miller california since establishes national standard obscenity federal statutes prohibiting mailing obscene materials broadcasting obscene messages constitutional barrier miller prohibiting communications obscene communities local standards even though obscene others sable burden complying prohibition free tailor messages selective basis communities chooses serve pp section ban indecent telephone messages violates first amendment since statute denial adult access messages far exceeds necessary serve compelling interest preventing minors exposed messages fcc pacifica foundation emphatically narrow ruling giving fcc power regulate indecent radio broadcast readily distinguishable cases pacifica involve total ban broadcasting indecent material relied unique attributes broadcasting intrude privacy home without prior warning content uniquely accessible children contrast medium requires listener take affirmative steps receive communications government argument nothing less total ban prevent children gaining access messages defer congress conclusions factual findings effect unpersuasive evidence show children evaded rules fcc prolonged proceedings determined keep messages reach moreover deference congress legislative findings limit judicial inquiry first amendment rights stake congressional record contains legislative findings justify conclusion constitutionally acceptable less restrictive means achieve government interest protecting minors pp white delivered opinion unanimous respect parts ii iv opinion respect part iii rehnquist blackmun scalia kennedy joined scalia filed concurring opinion post brennan filed opinion concurring part dissenting part marshall stevens joined post together federal communications commission et al sable communications california also appeal richard taranto argued cause appellees appellants briefs acting solicitor general bryson assistant attorney general bolton deputy solicitor general wallace barbara herwig jacob lewis diane killory laurence tribe argued cause appellant appellee brief brian stuart koukoutchos lawrence abelman norman beier richard simon lee fn briefs amici curiae filed minority members committee energy commerce house representatives john adams action children television et al timothy dyk henry geller john powell edwin baker susan liss jan levine howard monderer lois schiffer karen christensen andrew jay schwartzman paula jameson nancy hendry laurent scharff jane kirtley bruce sanford robert beizer american family association peggy coleman association interactive information providers earl nicholas selby william bennett turner citizens decency law benjamin bull home box office daniel waggoner stuart dunwoody harold akselrad pacifica foundation william byrnes morality media paul mcgeady san francisco aids foundation leonard graff catholic conference mark chopko john olivo robert perry jane roe et al bruce ennis justice white delivered opinion issue us constitutionality communications act supp statute amended imposes outright ban indecent well obscene interstate commercial telephone messages district upheld prohibition obscene interstate telephone communications commercial purposes enjoined enforcement statute insofar applied indecent messages affirm district respects sable communications los affiliate carlin communications began offering sexually oriented prerecorded telephone messages popularly known pacific bell telephone network order provide messages sable arranged pacific bell use special telephone lines designed handle large volumes calls simultaneously called adult message number charged special fee fee collected pacific bell divided phone company message provider callers outside los angeles metropolitan area reach number means toll call los angeles area code sable brought suit district seeking declaratory injunctive relief enforcement recently amended amendments statute imposed blanket prohibition indecent well obscene interstate commercial telephone messages sable brought action enjoin federal communications commission fcc justice department initiating criminal investigation prosecution civil action administrative proceeding statute sable also sought declaratory judgment challenging indecency obscenity provisions amended unconstitutional chiefly first fourteenth amendments constitution district found concrete controversy existed sable met irreparable injury requirement issuance preliminary injunction elrod burns supp cd cal district denied sable request preliminary injunction enforcement statute ban obscene telephone messages rejecting argument statute unconstitutional created national standard obscenity district however struck indecent speech provision holding respect statute overbroad unconstitutional result consistent fcc pacifica foundation government unquestionably legitimate interest protecting children exposure indecent messages narrowly drawn achieve purpose ban indecent speech contrary first amendment therefore issued preliminary injunction prohibiting enforcement respect communication alleged indecent noted probable jurisdiction sable appeal obscenity ruling also noted probable jurisdiction federal parties preliminary injunction holding statute unconstitutional respect ban indecent speech ii services creature decade medium brief history subject much litigation object series attempts regulation first litigation involving brought stat proscribed knowingly permitting telephone one control used make comment request suggestion proposal obscene lewd lascivious filthy indecent however fcc concluded administrative action existing law cover application review complaint filed peter cohalan fcc file memorandum opinions orders adopted may reaction fcc determination congress made first effort explicitly address added subsection communications act provision predecessor amendment issue case pertained directly sexually oriented commercial telephone messages sought restrict access minors relevant provision act federal communications commission authorization act pub stat made crime use telephone facilities make obscene indecent interstate telephone communications commercial purposes person eighteen years age person without person consent supp statute criminalized commercial transmission sexually oriented communications minors required fcc promulgate regulations laying means sponsors screen underaged callers enactment provided defense prosecution defendant restricted access adults accordance procedures established fcc statute criminalize sexually oriented messages adults whether messages obscene indecent fcc initially promulgated regulations established defense message providers operating hours eastern time time channeling providers requiring payment credit card screening transmission message restrictions obscene indecent telephone message services cfr carlin communications fcc carlin appeals second circuit set aside time channeling regulations remanded fcc examine alternatives concluding operating hours requirement overinclusive underinclusive denied access adults certain hours youths easily pick private public telephone call remaining hours appeals reach constitutionality underlying legislation fcc promulgated new regulations continued permit credit card payment defense prosecution instead time restrictions however commission added defense based use access codes user identification codes thus defense prosecution defendant transmission message restricted customer access requiring either payment credit card authorization access identification code fed reg regulations required vendor develop identification code data base implementation scheme callers required provide access number identification credit card receiving message access code received mail message provider reviewed application concluded written age ascertainment procedure applicant least years age fcc rejected proposal exchange blocking block screen telephone numbers customer premises telephone company offices carlin communications fcc carlin ii appeals set aside new regulations fcc failure adequately consider customer premises blocking constitutionality underlying legislation addressed fcc promulgated third set regulations rejected customer premises blocking added prior defenses credit card payment access code use third defense message scrambling fed reg system providers scramble message unintelligible without use descrambler sale limited adults january carlin communications fcc carlin iii cert denied appeals second circuit held new regulations made access codes along credit card payments scrambled messages defenses prosecution providers supported evidence properly arrived feasible effective way serve compelling state interest protecting minors directed fcc reopen proceedings less restrictive technology became available appeals however time reaching constitutionality statute invalidated insofar sought apply nonobscene speech thereafter april congress amended communications act prohibit indecent well obscene interstate commercial telephone communications directed person regardless age amended statute took effect july also eliminated requirement fcc promulgate regulations restricting access minors since total ban imposed making illegal adults well children access sexually explicit messages pub stat version statute effect sable commenced action iii ruling issue district upheld prohibition obscene telephone messages constitutional agree judgment contrast prohibition indecent communications constitutional barrier ban obscene recordings repeatedly held protection first amendment extend obscene speech see paris adult theatre slaton cases us today require us decide obscene indecent rather determine whether congress empowered prohibit transmission obscene telephonic communications facial challenge statute sable argues legislation creates impermissible national standard obscenity places message senders double bind compelling tailor messages least tolerant community read contravening contemporary community standards requirement miller california section establishes national standard obscenity federal statutes prohibiting mailing obscene materials see hamling broadcasting obscene messages reidel said congress prohibit use mails commercial distribution materials properly classifiable obscene even though materials distributed willing adults stated adults similarly hold today constitutional stricture congress prohibiting interstate transmission obscene commercial telephone recordings stated reels film miller standards including contemporary community standards formulation apply federal legislation said fact distributors allegedly obscene materials may subjected varying community standards various federal judicial districts transmit materials render federal statute unconstitutional failure application uniform national standards obscenity hamling supra furthermore sable free tailor messages selective basis chooses communities chooses serve sable may forced incur costs developing implementing system screening locale incoming calls constitutional impediment enacting law may impose costs medium electing provide messages whether sable chooses hire operators determine source calls engages telephone company arrange screening blocking calls finds another means providing messages compatible community standards decision message provider make constitutional barrier miller prohibiting communications obscene communities local standards even though obscene others sable audience comprised different communities different local standards sable ultimately bears burden complying prohibition obscene messages iv district concluded government legitimate interest protecting children exposure indecent messages sufficiently narrowly drawn serve purpose thus violated first amendment agree sexual expression indecent obscene protected first amendment federal parties submit sale materials adults criminalized solely indecent government may however regulate content constitutionally protected speech order promote compelling interest chooses least restrictive means articulated interest recognized compelling interest protecting physical psychological minors interest extends shielding minors influence literature obscene adult standards ginsberg new york new york ferber government may serve legitimate interest withstand constitutional scrutiny must narrowly drawn regulations designed serve interests without unnecessarily interfering first amendment freedoms hynes mayor oradell first national bank boston bellotti schaumburg citizens better environment enough show government ends compelling means must carefully tailored achieve ends butler michigan unanimous reversed conviction statute made offense make available general public materials found potentially harmful influence minors found law insufficiently tailored since denied adults free speech rights allowing read acceptable children justice frankfurter said case urely burn house roast pig judgment case like butler presents us legislation reasonably restricted evil said deal ibid attempting justify complete ban criminalization indecent commercial telephone communications adults well minors federal parties rely fcc pacifica foundation case considered whether fcc power regulate radio broadcast indecent obscene emphatically narrow holding pacifica concluded special treatment indecent broadcasting justified pacifica readily distinguishable cases obviously involve total ban broadcasting indecent material fcc rule intended place absolute prohibition broadcast type language rather sought channel times day children likely exposed pacifica supra quoting pacifica foundation issue total ban pacifica opinion also relied unique attributes broadcasting noting broadcasting uniquely pervasive intrude privacy home without prior warning program content uniquely accessible children even young read private commercial telephone communications issue substantially different public radio broadcast issue pacifica contrast public displays unsolicited mailings means expression recipient meaningful opportunity avoid medium requires listener take affirmative steps receive communication captive audience problem callers generally unwilling listeners context services caller seeks willing pay communication manifestly different situation listener want received message placing telephone call turning radio taken surprise indecent message unlike unexpected outburst radio broadcast message received one places call service invasive surprising prevents unwilling listener avoiding exposure pacifica careful emphasize narrowness holding bolger youngs drug products distinguish pacifica cases us reiterate government may reduce adult population fit children quoting butler michigan supra federal parties nevertheless argue total ban indecent commercial telephone communications justified nothing less prevent children gaining access messages find argument quite unpersuasive fcc lengthy proceedings determined credit card access code scrambling rules satisfactory solution problem keeping indecent messages reach minors appeals careful consideration agreed rules represented feasible effective way serve government compelling interest protecting children federal parties insist rules effective enough enterprising youngsters evade rules gain access communications shielded evidence record us effect since fcc implementation prior amendment never tested time respect federal parties assert amending congress expressed view sufficiently effective way protect minors short total ban enacted federal parties claim must give deference judgment extent federal parties suggest defer congress conclusion issue constitutional law answer ignore task end decide whether congress violated constitution particularly true legislature concluded product violate first amendment deference legislative finding limit judicial inquiry first amendment rights stake landmark communications virginia federal parties however also urge us defer factual findings congress relevant resolving constitutional issue rely walters national association radiation survivors rostker goldberg beyond fact whatever deference due legislative findings foreclose independent judgment facts bearing issue constitutional law answer congressional record contains legislative findings justify us concluding constitutionally acceptable less restrictive means short total ban achieve government interest protecting minors doubt congress enacted total ban obscene indecent telephone communications aside conclusory statements debates proponents bill well similar assertions hearings substantially identical bill year fcc regulations minors still access messages congressional record presented us contains evidence effective ineffective fcc recent regulations might prove may well method guaranteeing never minor able access system bill enacted however introduced floor committee report bill language enacted bill taken congressman senator purported present considered judgment respect often extent minors circumvent rules access messages hand hearings committee heard testimony fcc witnesses fcc rules effective tried practice furthermore conclusion hearing chairman suggested consultation looking toward drafting piece legislation pass constitutional muster time providing practical relief families groups looking hearings bill never emerged committee know record fcc technological approach restricting messages adults seek extremely effective enterprising disobedient young people manage secure access messages case seems us narrowly tailored effort serve compelling interest preventing minors exposed indecent telephone messages precedents present form invalid effect limiting content adult telephone conversations suitable children hear another case burn ing house roast pig butler michigan statute denial adult access telephone messages indecent obscene far exceeds necessary limit access minors messages hold ban survive constitutional scrutiny accordingly affirm judgment district nos ordered footnotes sable appealed district ruling appeals ninth circuit concurrently filing emergency motion injunction pending appeal district entered order temporarily enjoining fcc enforcing statute pendency appeal federal parties filed notice appeal district grant preliminary injunction indecent communication appeals ninth circuit entered order directing sable either file motion voluntary dismissal show cause appeal dismissed lack jurisdiction sable filed ex parte application injunction pending appeal well return appeals order show cause appeals entered order dismissing appeal since filing direct appeal fcc effect transferring sable appeal big business service new york city alone received six seven million calls month period ending april carlin communications fcc whoever knowingly district columbia interstate foreign communication means telephone makes directly recording device obscene indecent communication commercial purposes person regardless whether maker communication placed call permits telephone facility person control used activity prohibited subparagraph shall fined imprisoned six months sable federal parties filed jurisdictional statements noted probable jurisdiction revised congress child protection obscenity enforcement act stat enacted title vii subtitle abuse act pub codified recent legislation signed law november places prohibition obscene commercial telephone messages subsection separate containing prohibition indecent messages addition new law prohibition obscene indecent telephone messages enforceable criminal penalties longer administrative proceedings fcc section communications act amended child protection obscenity enforcement act pertinent part whoever knowingly district columbia interstate foreign communication means telephone makes directly recording device obscene communication commercial purposes person regardless whether maker communication placed call permits telephone facility person control used activity prohibited clause shall fined accordance title code imprisoned two years whoever knowingly district columbia interstate foreign communication means telephone makes directly recording device indecent communication commercial purposes person regardless whether maker communication placed call permits telephone facility person control used activity prohibited clause shall fined imprisoned six months stat jurisdictional statement sable also argued prohibition obscene calls severable ban indecent messages last claim renewed sable brief merits presumably result subsequent modification statute congress specifically placed ban obscene commercial telephone messages subsection separate prohibition indecent messages thus severability question longer us see cong rec statement bliley statement coats statement hall statement hatch telephone decency act hearing subcommittee telecommunications finance house committee energy commerce bliley hearings coats tauke hearings held carlin iii pending appeals second circuit see hearings hearings following colloquy occurred congressman nielson ward attorney interested prosecutions nielson let ask question asked previous panel current alternatives fcc access codes credit cards scrambling provide foolproof way limiting access adults either ward think foolproof think access code requirement screening option provide means dramatically reducing number calls minors almost eliminating think effective way nielson foolproof ward absolutely foolproof join opinion add words missed making value judgment respect indecency portion statute conclusion reasoning part iv opinion follows know record fcc technological approach restricting messages adults seek extremely effective enterprising disobedient young people manage secure access messages case seems us narrowly tailored effort serve compelling interest preventing minors exposed indecent telephone messages ante know record fcc technological approach restricting messages adults seek inadequate since enterprising disobedient young people manage secure access messages since case seems us narrowly tailored effort serve compelling interest preventing minors exposed indecent telephone messages joining part iv understanding examination legislative history ante merely meant establish anywhere else data found demonstrating infeasibility alternative means provide given nature material adequate protection minors understand suggest data must congress order law valid even though congressman senator purported present considered judgment infeasibility ante law valid infeasibility true neither due process first amendment requires legislation supported committee reports floor debates even consideration vote finally note hold constitution prevents congress banning indecent speech fashion hold constitution requires public utilities carry justice brennan justice marshall justice stevens join concurring part dissenting part agree statute imposing criminal penalties making allowing others use telephone one control make indecent telephonic communication commercial purpose patently unconstitutional therefore join parts ii iv opinion view however parallel criminal prohibition regard obscene commercial communications likewise violates first amendment long convinced exaction criminal penalties distribution obscene materials consenting adults constitutionally intolerable judgment concept obscenity defined sufficient specificity clarity provide fair notice persons create distribute sexually oriented materials prevent substantial erosion protected speech byproduct attempt suppress unprotected speech avoid costly institutional harms paris adult theatre slaton brennan dissenting sure government strong interest protecting children exposure pornographic material might harmful new york ferber brennan concurring judgment ginsberg new york complete criminal ban obscene telephonic messages profit unconstitutionally overbroad therefore invalid face means achieving end miller california brennan dissenting evidence adduces show denying adults access indecent commercial messages far exceeds necessary limit access minors messages ante also demonstrates forbidding transmission obscene messages unduly heavyhanded painstaking scrutiny fcc second circuit found scheme involving access codes scrambling credit card payment feasible effective way serve compelling state interest safeguarding children carlin communications fcc cert denied hearings attorney speaking behalf justice department described fcc proposed regulations effective dramatically reduc number calls minors almost eliminating telephone decency act hearings subcommittee telecommunications finance house committee energy commerce addition notes ante contrary evidence congress voted impose total prohibition obscene telephonic messages profit hence federal parties plausibly claim legitimate interest protecting children warrants draconian restriction first amendment rights adults seek hear messages sable others provide section unambiguously proscribes obscene commercial messages thus admits construction render constitutionally permissible criminal statute curtails freedom speech far radically government interest preventing harm minors possibly license record us reverse district decision strike statute face accordingly dissent part iii opinion