It is unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously interfere with certain protected communications.
§73.11. Communication interference A. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously injure, destroy, obstruct, hinder, delay the transmission of, or interfere with any of the following communications: (1) A communication that is operated or controlled by the state, its contractors, or its political subdivisions. (2) A communication that is used or intended to be used for military or civil defense functions of the state. (3) A communication that is controlled by any domestic or foreign corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity created for the purpose of or engaged in generating, transmitting, providing, and distributing utilities or utility services to the public. B. For purposes of this Section: (1) "Communication" includes any radio, telegraph, telephone, electronic, satellite, or cable communication. (2) "Utilities" or "utility services" includes services such as electricity, water, natural gas, steam, cable, or electronic communication systems. C. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any of the following: (1) Any lawful strike activity, or other lawful concerted activities for the purposes of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection which do not injure or destroy any line or system used or intended to be used for and by the state, for military or civil defense functions of the state, or for any private entity as described in Subsection A of this Section. (2) An entity the security issues of which are subject to approval, control, regulation, or supervision by the federal government or any agency thereof under any other federal statute; an entity whose business is subject to regulation by the Federal Communications Commission; or any entity conducting or carrying on its business or operations in two or more states when engaged in the course and scope of their business activities. (3) Member-owned electric cooperatives, municipally owned electric service providers, privately owned utilities, or investor-owned utilities regulated by the Louisiana Public Service Commission or the city council of New Orleans when engaged in the course and scope of their business activities. D.(1) Any person convicted of a first offense of Subsection A of this Section shall be subject to a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars, imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more than ten years, or both. (2) Any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense of Subsection A of this Section shall be subject to a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars, imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more than fifteen years, or both. Acts 2019, No. 88, §1.