More than 400,000 Wisconsin residents could start getting unwelcome calls from telemarketers again if they do not renew their spots on the state's No Call List by today.
Numbers remain on the list for two years, at which time residents must sign up again to continue their protection. Those who joined the list in 2004 are set to be dropped if they do not renew.
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, which operates the list, received more than 60,000 calls on Wednesday by residents wishing to sign up for the No Call List, with even more expected for today.
Because this is only the second two-year period to come to a close since the creation of the list, Wisconsin residents are still largely unaware they have to sign up regularly to keep their protection.
""It's easy to forget to sign up every two years,"" said director Jim Rabbit in a statement. ""That's why we encourage people to sign up every year on their birthday. That way you don't forget.""
The deadline today will ensure uninterrupted coverage for those already on the list. Any state resident can sign up for no call protection at any time of the year simply by calling the department's hotline or visiting their website.
""We encourage students to sign up because they are often misled, "" said department spokesperson Glen Loyd. ""A lot of students are telemarketed for travel programs that turn out to be frauds. So students are ripped off on a regular basis by telephone solicitors.""
The state No Call List protects only Wisconsin landlines and includes exemptions for calls from charities and political candidates and organizations. Protection for cell phones can be obtained by signing up on the federal No Call List.
State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, is working to expand consumer telephone protection even further. He will introduce legislation in January to ban automated, computerized phone calls using pre-recorded messages, also known as robocalls.
Wisconsin law has banned such commercial calls for the past 30 years, but has an exemption for political calls.
While Black said he is deeply concerned about the right to free political speech, he also worries heavy use of robocalling violates privacy rights.
The legislation is modeled after Indiana law, which requires all mass political calls be placed by a human, thus limiting the volume of calls and the potential for harassment. After the midterm election, Black said reports showed at least 20 congressional districts, including one in Wisconsin, political parties using robocalls to deliberately harass and alienate their opponent's supporters.
