FCC Consumer Complaints – 2 January 2016

Introduction

The Federal Communications Commission recorded 300 consumer complaints on 2 January 2016 relating to telecommunications services, this represented a decline from the 395 complaints recorded the day before. Complaints were reported across 44 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Complaints relating to Billing were marginally higher than for other issue types.

Key statistics

Total complaints
300
States & territories reporting
44
Most common issue
Billing (66)
Most reported state/territory
California (41)

Where the complaints came from

A total of 300 complaints were recorded on 2 January 2016, with reports originating from 250 cities in 44 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.

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 41 13.7%
Florida 25 8.3%
Pennsylvania 19 6.3%
New York 18 6.0%
Texas 17 5.7%
Georgia 15 5.0%
Virginia 13 4.3%
Colorado 12 4.0%
Illinois 11 3.7%
New Jersey 9 3.0%
Other states and territories 120 40.0%

What the complaints were about

Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 149 complaints. This was followed by Internet, which accounted for 73 complaints.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 149 49.7%
Internet 73 24.3%
TV 70 23.3%
Radio 5 1.7%
Emergency 2 0.7%
Request for Dispute Assistance 1 0.3%

Phone complaints

149 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 49.7% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) 61 40.9%
Billing 27 18.1%
Robocalls 24 16.1%
Equipment 12 8.1%
Availability (including rural call completion) 7 4.7%
Privacy 5 3.4%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 4 2.7%
Junk Faxes 3 2.0%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 2 1.3%
Interference (including signal jammers) 2 1.3%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 2 1.3%

Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) represented the largest share of complaints recorded in this category, with lower volumes reported across the remaining issues.

Internet complaints

73 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 24.3% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 25 34.2%
Speed 15 20.5%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 13 17.8%
Availability 10 13.7%
Privacy 5 6.8%
Equipment 3 4.1%
Interference 2 2.7%

The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Speed and Open Internet/Net Neutrality.

TV complaints

70 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 23.3% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Indecency 22 31.4%
Loud Commercials 16 22.9%
Billing 13 18.6%
Availability 12 17.1%
Equipment 4 5.7%
Interference 2 2.9%
Privacy 1 1.4%

The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Indecency, Loud Commercials and Billing.

Page last updated: 10 December 2018 with FCC complaints data from 2 January 2016.

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.