Anyone digging, or planning on digging, in the State of Wisconsin – no matter how big or small the job – is required by law to contact Diggers Hotline at least three working days before digging. Diggers Hotline was established in 1976 to increase worker and public safety, prevent damage to underground and overhead facilities, protect the environment and to help ensure continuity of utility and communication services. Wisconsin’s one-call center has helped millions of callers obtain information on the location of underground facilities and safe working distances from overhead lines – all for absolutely no cost to the caller. Diggers Hotline was formed by Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Wisconsin Gas Company, Wisconsin Telephone, Wisconsin Natural Gas Company and the City of Milwaukee to provide one-call service to the Metro Milwaukee area. It was under the direction of an Operating Committee composed of representatives from each of the members. A publicity committee was formed to direct public awareness programs, and an expansion committee planned for member and area growth. In the early 1980's, Diggers Hotline merged with Dane County One-Call, and shortly after expanded to provide service statewide. In conjunction with the expansion, Diggers Hotline incorporated as a non-profit corporation to isolate itself from the members and to be able to collect funds to purchase computer equipment. As the call volume increased, Diggers Hotline outgrew the lower level of the Bockl Building. The Diggers Hotline Board of Directors approved new construction of an office building. As site selection began, the Oaks Building in Wauwatosa went up for sale. Diggers Hotline purchased the Oaks Building, at 8112 W. Bluemound Road, and moved the call-center in to the upper level. The statewide expansion and the purchase of the Oaks Building put the present day Diggers Hotline structure in place. Call volume, membership, and staffing requirements all have increased steadily each year. In the mid-1990s, another next big step was taken. On December 21, 1995, Governor Tommy Thompson signed Wisconsin Act 135, which repealed, renumbered, amended, and created sections of the existing Wisconsin State Statue 182.0175. This legislation required transmission facility owners to be a member of the one-call system. The only exceptions to this legislation are those people that own facilities on property that they either own or lease. This legislation sent Diggers Hotline's membership skyrocketing with municipalities, state agencies, sewer districts, local and long distance telephone, petroleum transmission companies, electric and natural gas providers, cable television and others being required to join the Wisconsin one-call center. Since then, membership has grown by leaps and bounds, and excavators, both professional and homeowners, call Diggers Hotline hundreds of thousands of times annually. Diggers Hotline has been recognized several times by the Governor of Wisconsin with Diggers Hotline week. In December 2005, Diggers Hotline purchased a new building & moved to 14100 W. National Avenue in New Berlin, WI.