February 2, 2006


Do Not Call List Update One Step Closer


MADISON -- State Senator Jon Erpenbach went before the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Information Technology committee today to urge an update to Wisconsin’s Do Not Call List.

“I want to thank Senator Cowles for having a hearing today,”said Erpenbach. “These are important changes that really deserve some attention and consideration,” he added.

SB 116 includes the following changes to Wisconsin’s Do Not Call List:

  1. Allows Wisconsin residents to add their cell phones to the state Do Not Call List. (Currently WI residents can only add land lines)
  2. Allows a small business to add a land line or a cellular phone number to Wisconsin’s Do Not Call List.
    3. (Currently a small business cannot add a number to the No Call List)
  3. Increases the penalties for each violation to $1,000-$10,000.
    (Under current law the penalty is only $100)
  4. Allows the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection to bring a forfeiture action against those who violate laws against fax solicitations.
    (Currently only a District Attorney can do so)
As of January of 2005, there were 1.5 million Wisconsin phone numbers on the list. That represents 80% of Wisconsin residents. And with estimates of 2-3 cell phones per land line, it has become even more important to allow cell phones on Wisconsin’s list. Currently a Wisconsin resident can add their number to the federal No Call list, but it is much weaker than the popular Wisconsin list.

“I really hope the committee will see the need to add small businesses and cell phones to the Do Not Call List. Cell phone users and small businesses should not have to spend their time and money on unwanted telemarketing calls, and we should give them the tools they need to avoid doing so,” Erpenbach said.

The bill also puts more teeth into the penalties for violating the Do Not Call List. Telemarketing calls remain the number one consumer complaint in Wisconsin, demonstrating the need to strengthen the penalties for violating the law.

“By increasing the fines, hopefully telemarketing companies will think twice instead of just considering it a cost of doing business,” he said.