The bad old days when telemarketers constantly interrupted your home life were less than five years ago, believe it or not. And when the five-year mark arrives, you have a decision to make.

Unless federal law changes, consumers who signed up for the federal Do Not Call list will have to renew their listings or face the possibility of again being swamped with unwanted calls.

The Do Not Call list started in June 2003, so the first listings will expire next June. More than 149 million phone numbers are in the registry — emphatic evidence that Americans treasure the right to be left alone.

With bipartisan support, U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., has introduced legislation to make the registrations permanent — meaning that once you were on the list, you would not have to renew.

People “shouldn’t have to keep a calendar” to avoid the recurrence of a nuisance, Mr. Doyle says. He points out that the list is already purged each month of numbers that have been disconnected or reassigned to different customers.

The Federal Trade Commission, which manages the list, notes that renewal is “incredibly quick and easy,” in the words of FTC official Lydia Parnes.

Well, they’re both right. Re-signing up is no big deal, but why create work for the owners of 149 million phone numbers when you can achieve the same thing with a change in the law? Congress should act in favor of consumers, not a relative few businesses that want to make sales calls.

Meanwhile, you can register your home phone or cell phone, or complain, at www.donotcall.gov or (888) 382-1222.

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