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The FBI has charged six people for violating parts of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act for allegedly helping consumers steal satellite television signals, the U.S. government agency says.

The FBI has been tracking the illegal sale of software and devices used to decrypt satellite television signals for more than a year, according to an agency representative. As part of the effort, called Operation Decrypt, six individuals have been accused of violating provisions in the DMCA that make it illegal to circumvent encryption technologies in order to gain access to content, said James Spertus, assistant U.S. attorney.

A total of 17 people were charged in Los Angeles this week as part of the investigation. Most of them have already agreed to plead guilty and were not charged under the DMCA, according to investigators.

"There is an enormous underground community of Web sites and individuals who advertise these decryption services," Spertus said. "We are targeting the higher tier, which are the actual software writers themselves or the engineers who deliver these hardware devices."

Hacker Grapevine

The FBI named DirecTV and Dish Network--part of EchoStar Communications--as two companies that have lost millions of dollars from satellite signal piracy. Both have invested heavily in technology designed to give only paying customers access to their services.

In a statement, the FBI said computer hackers have set up a network of "secret online chat rooms" to exchange data and techniques for getting past the satellite companies' security measures.

Last October, FBI agents in seven states used search warrants to seize computers and other devices from the suspects' homes, according to the statement. Documents related to the alleged crimes were unsealed and made public Tuesday.

Inaugural Case

This case marks the first time individuals have been charged under the DMCA in the Central District of California. The six people allegedly committed crimes by violating sections 1201 and 1204 of the DMCA, which cover making technology used to get past copyrights, Spertus said.

The 1998 DMCA has been a highly controversial piece of copyright legislation, as critics argue that its broad scope can limit innovation and fair use of technology. Advocates say it helps protect content and intellectual property in a world that has been changed by the wide use of digital technology.

A trial date for the six individuals should be announced within 70 days, Spertus said.

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