State lawmakers are considering a bill that would overhaul the Wisconsin’s Do Not Call registry that would make registrations to the popular list permanent.
The proposal from state Representative Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) would merge the state’s no call registry with a similar list maintained by the Federal Trade Commission. The move would eliminate the need for Wisconsin residents to sign up for the list every two years, while still allowing the state to enforce its own consumer protection laws.
AUDIO: Rep. Keith Ripp (:13)
Numbers would remain on the list as long as they are in service or are associated with a specific customer.
Ripp says the change would eliminate much of the confusion that surrounds Wisconsin’s list, as consumers are constantly forced to sign up again or lose track of when they last registered. The Lodi Republican argues it could save the state about $190,000 in administrative costs, allow the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection to focus more on the enforcement of registry violations.
About 2.2 million Wisconsin residential and cell phone numbers are on the state’s list, while about 3.7 million are on the federal list.
The bill is currently being considered by a legislative committee.
