Connecticut consumers would get a new weapon against annoying telemarketers under a bill headed to the governor’s desk for signing.
Separately, the state Senate has adopted a measure that would enable callers to get clear information faster when reporting power outages or downed utility lines.
On the issue of annoying telemarketers, the House passed a bill previously adopted in the Senate that raises penalties on telemarketers who nag consumers who have registered to not receive sales calls.
The law, which allows the state to fine telemarketing violators, would permit the state to impose an additional $11,000 fine.
Consumer complaints to state authorities about illegal calls are rising, said state Sen. Thomas A. Colapietro, D-Bristol, co-chair of the legislature’s General Law Committee. More than 260 complaints of illegal calls were made to the state Department of Consumer Protection last year, he said.
“Unwanted sales calls are a complete nuisance, and although you can sign up not to receive them, some telemarketers still haven’t gotten the message,” Colapietro said. “I hope that this additional penalty will cause them to think first before they dial.”
The bill awaits signing by Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 417, which now moves to the House, requires telecommunications call center employees, upon request, to disclose the city, state, and country where the employee is located, and-also upon request-transfer the call to an in-state telecommunications call center when possible.
“Consumers have an interest in the availability of local call center representatives who understand their community and can respond appropriately in urgent situations,” said Sen. John W. Fonfara (D-Hartford), co-chair of the General Assembly’s Energy and Technology Committee,
Under the bill, the state Department of Public Utility Control must file an annual report with the Energy and Technology Committee that includes the location of each Connecticut telecommunication company’s call center.
The bill also requires the Department of Information Technology, when contracting with telecommunications companies, to give preference to companies that direct a high percentage of service calls to in-state telecommunications call centers.
An additional provision of the bill requires DPUC to establish procedures each utility company must follow when one of its utility poles or downed wires is damaged in an accident. The procedures must include a maximum amount of time between the accident and the repair.
Police officials say refining procedures would  free them up to handle other emergency calls for service,” said Charles Flynn of the New London Police Union in testimony to the Energy and Technology Committee.
