FCC Consumer Complaints – 28 October 2015
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 1300 consumer complaints on 28 October 2015 relating to telecommunications services, this represented a decline from the 1338 complaints recorded the previous day. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. The most common issue reported was Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing), accounting for 492 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1300
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) (492)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (139)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 28 October 2015 show 1300 complaints originating from 843 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
The table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 139 | 10.7% |
| Florida | 128 | 9.8% |
| Texas | 89 | 6.8% |
| Georgia | 77 | 5.9% |
| Maryland | 59 | 4.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 56 | 4.3% |
| New York | 54 | 4.2% |
| New Jersey | 41 | 3.2% |
| Washington | 41 | 3.2% |
| Illinois | 39 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 576 | 44.3% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 922 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 922 | 70.9% |
| Internet | 232 | 17.8% |
| TV | 109 | 8.4% |
| Radio | 31 | 2.4% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.3% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
922 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 70.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 492 | 53.4% |
| Robocalls | 223 | 24.2% |
| Billing | 68 | 7.4% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 30 | 3.3% |
| Equipment | 28 | 3.0% |
| Privacy | 26 | 2.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 19 | 2.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 15 | 1.6% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 14 | 1.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 0.7% |
Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) and Robocalls accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Internet complaints
232 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 17.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 77 | 33.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 49 | 21.1% |
| Availability | 40 | 17.2% |
| Speed | 31 | 13.4% |
| Privacy | 16 | 6.9% |
| Equipment | 11 | 4.7% |
| Interference | 8 | 3.4% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Open Internet/Net Neutrality and Availability.
TV complaints
109 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 42 | 38.5% |
| Availability | 16 | 14.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 15 | 13.8% |
| Indecency | 14 | 12.8% |
| Equipment | 12 | 11.0% |
| Interference | 6 | 5.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 1.8% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.8% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Loud Commercials.
Radio complaints
31 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 2.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Interference | 26 | 83.9% |
| Indecency | 2 | 6.5% |
| Pirate Radio | 2 | 6.5% |
| Equipment | 1 | 3.2% |
Interference and Indecency accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
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.