January 30, 2008

 

Cellular Phones on “No Call” List Passes Bipartisan Finance Committee

Erpenbach Bill Adds Cellular Phones, Increases Penalties, Businesses Out in Compromise

Madison – An Erpenbach bill to add cellular phones to the highly popular Wisconsin “Do Not Call” list passed a significant hurdle today with positive action from the bipartisan Joint Committee on Finance. The bill is revenue neutral, since Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection creates and maintains the list and charges fees to telemarketing companies to pay for the list.

“Obviously I am ecstatic, the bill has been in limbo for a while, and I am very happy we made it on the Finance agenda. The substitute amendment to the bill represents a compromise that takes the private cause of action out of the bill, set the maximum per call fine at $1,000, and takes out the ability for small businesses to sign up for the list,” Erpenbach said.

“I wanted businesses to be able to have the option to be on the ‘Do Not Call’ list, I heard that it was important to them, but in the end it was what was holding up the bill. Having the ability for all types of phones to be able to sign up for the “Do Not Call” list is a huge deal and I am very hopeful we will be able to move ahead with this bipartisan action,” Erpenbach said.

Currently only “basic local exchange” service customers can sign up for the “Do Not Call” list. Last year, over 1 million Wisconsin residential land line customers signed up for the list. The bill would allow all “telecommunications” customers (including cellular phones) to sign up for the list. In addition, currently the per violation fine is a maximum of $100, the bill increases that to up to $1,000.

“Wisconsin runs a really smooth “Do Not Call” operation. We make it very easy for telemarketers to comply with the law. If they choose to violate the rules, the penalties need to be higher. If people sign up for the “Do Not Call” list they don’t want to get calls and telemarketers should know when they violate the law people will complain and they will have to pay a fine,” Erpenbach said.