Is the Wisconsin Do Not Call registry free?

Consumer registration is free in every state. Telemarketers pay $500 for access to the list. You never pay to add your number.

Does the Wisconsin DNC list cover cell phones?

Yes. Cell phones are covered. The federal registry has accepted cell phone numbers since inception. The Wisconsin state list also covers mobile numbers. You can register any personal number — landline or wireless — to block telemarketing calls.

Does it cover text messages?

Yes — the Wisconsin registry expressly covers text messages. Telemarketing texts to a registered number are violations on the same footing as voice calls.

What is the penalty for calling a registered Wisconsin number?

Federal TCPA: $500 per call ($1,500 willful). FTC TSR penalties up to $51,744 per call. Wisconsin state penalty: $10,000 per call — and you can sue the telemarketer directly under the state private right of action.

What do I do when telemarketers call after I registered?

Three steps. (1) Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list — that triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation. (2) File a complaint at donotcall.gov. (3) Document the call (date, time, number, company, what was offered). In Wisconsin you have a private right of action — you can sue the telemarketer in small claims or state court.

Is registration permanent?

Yes. Federal registration is permanent — once your number is on the list, it stays until you remove it or disconnect the line. Wisconsin state registration is also permanent.

Home / States / Wisconsin

Wisconsin Telecom Compliance Guide

Q: Does Wisconsin have its own Do Not Call list?

Yes. Wisconsin maintains its own Do Not Call registry separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) administers it. Telemarketers calling into Wisconsin must scrub against both the state list and the federal registry.

Q: How do I register my phone number on the Wisconsin Do Not Call list?

Register at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/WIDoNotCallLaw.aspx. Registration is administered by Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and is permanent. You should also register on the federal National DNC Registry at donotcall.gov for full protection.

Telecom Compliance Reference — Updated January 2023

Mini-TCPA State — High Risk

Calling Hours

8:00 AM–9:00 PM

Min Penalty

$10,000

Registration

Required

Overview Calling Hours Consent Registration DNC Compliance DNC Registry Enforcement Case Law Legislation

Wisconsin Do Not Call Registry

How to register, what it covers, and how to enforce — 2026

Wisconsin runs its own DNC registry

Wisconsin maintains its own Do Not Call list separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Consumers should register on both lists for full protection.

Telemarketers calling into Wisconsin must scrub their lists against the state registry AND the federal registry before each campaign. Scrubbing only the federal list is not enough.

How to register your number

Wisconsin State Registry

Wisconsin No-Call List

Administered by Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)

https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/WIDoNotCallLaw.aspx →

Federal National DNC Registry

donotcall.gov

Administered by the Federal Trade Commission. Free, permanent, covers landlines and cell phones in every state.

How long it takes effect

Federal: 31 days for telemarketers to scrub against your number. State registries vary — most align with the federal 31-day window. Reputable telemarketers stop calling within a week. Bad actors keep calling and rack up violations.

What the registry covers

Landlines

Yes

Cell phones

Yes

Text messages

Yes

What it blocks: Telemarketing sales calls and texts. Calls trying to sell you something.

What it does NOT block: Political calls, charitable solicitations, calls from companies you have a current business relationship with (within 18 months of last purchase / 3 months of inquiry), debt collectors, surveys, and informational calls.

Robocalls and AI voice: Already restricted by TCPA regardless of registration. Adding your number to the DNC list adds an extra layer of liability for callers.

Wisconsin state list — details

Telemarketer access fee$500

Scrub frequencyMust synchronize lists with the Wisconsin No-Call registry at least every 31 days. Must also scrub against the federal NDNC. The Wisconsin list is SEPARATE from the federal list.

Consumer registrationPermanent

Governing statuteWis. Stat. § 100.52 (Telephone Solicitation)

Wisconsin maintains a SEPARATE state No-Call List administered by DATCP under Wis. Stat. § 100.52. Registration year: December 1 through November 30. Fees: $700 first-time/$500 renewal (base), plus $75/line for 4+ outbound lines, $25 per additional email for list delivery. Maximum annual fee: $20,000. Quarterly payments available (20% late fee applies). Telemarketers must prove they have a National DNC Registry subscription (SAN required) to register with DATCP. Phone lines include wireless, SIP, VOIP, T-lines — based on simultaneous outbound call capacity to WI residents. Covers calls AND text messages. Penalties: $100 per unregistered call/text. Calling/texting DNC-registered consumers is a separate violation with additional forfeiture. Registration: online or by mail to 2811 Agriculture Drive, Madison, WI 53718. Contact: 1-800-422-7128.

What to do when telemarketers call after you registered

Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list. That triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation under federal law. If they call again after 30 days, that is an independent violation.
File a federal complaint at donotcall.gov/report. The FTC tracks these and pursues serial offenders.
Document the call. Date, time, number that called, company name, what they were selling. Screenshot or save voicemails. This is the evidence you need if you sue or file a state complaint.
Sue the telemarketer in Wisconsin. Wisconsin has a private right of action — you can recover $10,000 per call without proving actual damages. Federal TCPA adds another $500–$1,500 per call. File a complaint here →

Recent Wisconsin DNC enforcement actions

Michael D. Lansky LLC d/b/a Avid Telecom

telecommunications

May 2023

WI AG Kaul joined 49-state Avid Telecom lawsuit. Avid transmitted 24.5 billion calls including calls to Wisconsin numbers. Court denied Avid's dismissal motion in May 2024. Wisconsin enforces telemarketing through both the AG's office and DATCP (Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection) — dual enforcement authority provides broader coverage than most states.

Source →

Calling a registered Wisconsin number costs telemarketers: $10,000 per call under state law, plus $500–$1,500 per call under federal TCPA. Consumers can sue directly — no state agency involvement required.

Running a telemarketing operation?

This page is for consumers and Wisconsin residents. If you operate outbound calls into Wisconsin, the compliance scrub workflow is documented separately.

Wisconsin DNC compliance for telemarketers →

Compare DNC Registry across states

Federal TCPA is the floor. Each state can — and many do — go further.

DNC Registry in FloridaFL DNC Registry in CaliforniaCA DNC Registry in TexasTX DNC Registry in New YorkNY DNC Registry in IllinoisIL DNC Registry in GeorgiaGA DNC Registry in WashingtonWA DNC Registry in OklahomaOK

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This is a compliance reference tool, not legal advice. Data compiled from public statutes, LegiScan, CourtListener, state AG offices, and AI-assisted analysis. Verify all information with qualified counsel before relying on it. Full terms & data sources →