Madison – An Erpenbach bill to add cellular phones to the highly popular Wisconsin “Do Not Call” list passed another hurdle today with positive action from the State Senate. Senate Bill 99 does not cost taxpayers a dime, since Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection creates and maintains the list and charges fees to telemarketing companies to pay for the list.
“This is the first addition to Wisconsin’s “Do Not Call” law since its enactment in January 1, 2003. Including cellular phones is a significant improvement to this popular public consumer service. In addition, the increase of the maximum fines will allow for better prosecution of violators. Finally, codifying federal and state rule to allow people to verbally tell any telemarketers, even those exempt from the list, to not call them again is another big consumer benefit,” Erpenbach said.
Senate Bill 99 originally created a business “Do Not Call” list as well, but a compromise amendment, worked on by Erpenbach, removed that provision as well as the private cause of action, and additional fax regulations.
“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 that the Assembly will take swift action to schedule SB 99 for the floor since an additional public hearing is not necessary,” Erpenbach said.
Currently only “basic local exchange” land line service customers can sign up for the “Do Not Call” list. Last year, over 1 million Wisconsin residential customers signed up for the list. The bill would allow all “telecommunications” customers (including cellular phones) to sign up for the list. In addition, the current maximum $100 per violation fine is increased to $1,000.
“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. We make it very easy for telemarketers to comply with the law. I cannot wait until this bill is signed into law – people want to stop cellular phone telemarketing and this bill does just that,” Erpenbach said.
