In September, the state initiated a "no-call" list that prevents telemarketers from calling anyone on the list. The law was passed in the spring legislative session, allowing substantial pent-up demand to grow before the state started taking names and phone numbers. Once it did, there were 65,000 contacts on the first day and reports of busy phone signals, despite 144 automated lines.
An estimated 28 other states have similar laws. Wisconsin's list goes into effect Jan. 1, 2003. There is a small lag of a month or two from sign-up to the time databases are updated for telemarketers. In all, the state expects the list to grow to about 1 million households.
—Ronald A. Wirtz
