FCC Consumer Complaints – 17 August 2015
Introduction
On Monday, 17 August 2015, 1149 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this was higher than the 353 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 50 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing), with 382 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1149
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) (382)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (109)
Where the complaints came from
On 17 August 2015, the 1149 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 760 cities across 50 states and territories. The complaints were widely dispersed, with no single state or territory representing a notable proportion of the total. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
The table below shows the distribution of complaints by state and territory for this date, highlighting the locations with the highest number of reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 109 | 9.5% |
| Florida | 98 | 8.5% |
| Texas | 91 | 7.9% |
| New York | 71 | 6.2% |
| Maryland | 54 | 4.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 50 | 4.4% |
| Georgia | 48 | 4.2% |
| Illinois | 47 | 4.1% |
| North Carolina | 38 | 3.3% |
| Ohio | 38 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 505 | 44.0% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 801 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 801 | 69.7% |
| Internet | 210 | 18.3% |
| TV | 94 | 8.2% |
| Radio | 38 | 3.3% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.3% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
801 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 69.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 382 | 47.7% |
| Robocalls | 183 | 22.8% |
| Billing | 75 | 9.4% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 48 | 6.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 29 | 3.6% |
| Privacy | 22 | 2.7% |
| Equipment | 20 | 2.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 20 | 2.5% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 11 | 1.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 0.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 5 | 0.6% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) and Robocalls, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
210 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 18.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 56 | 26.7% |
| Availability | 40 | 19.0% |
| Speed | 40 | 19.0% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 28 | 13.3% |
| Privacy | 22 | 10.5% |
| Interference | 14 | 6.7% |
| Equipment | 10 | 4.8% |
Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.
TV complaints
94 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 37 | 39.4% |
| Loud Commercials | 15 | 16.0% |
| Availability | 13 | 13.8% |
| Equipment | 12 | 12.8% |
| Indecency | 7 | 7.4% |
| Interference | 5 | 5.3% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 4.3% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.1% |
Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Loud Commercials and Availability.
Radio complaints
38 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 3.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Interference | 30 | 78.9% |
| Equipment | 2 | 5.3% |
| Pirate Radio | 2 | 5.3% |
| Availability | 1 | 2.6% |
| Billing | 1 | 2.6% |
| Commercials/Promotions | 1 | 2.6% |
| Indecency | 1 | 2.6% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Interference and Equipment, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
The information presented on this page is based on consumer complaint data submitted to regulatory authorities. References to telephone numbers reflect reports made by consumers and do not confirm ownership, authenticity, or that the number was genuinely associated with the call. Caller ID information may be inaccurate or subject to spoofing.
Complaint categories, dates and complainant locations are based on the source records and may contain incomplete, approximate or user-entered information. Location details refer to the complainant’s reported location, not the location of the caller or telephone number. This content is provided for informational purposes only.