FCC Consumer Complaints – 29 May 2016
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 266 consumer complaints on 29 May 2016 relating to telecommunications services, this represented a decline from the 434 complaints recorded the previous day. The complaints came from 38 states and territories, with California recording the largest share of reports at 43 complaints. Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) was reported slightly more frequently than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 266
- States & territories reporting
- 38
- Most common issue
- Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) (53)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (43)
Where the complaints came from
The 266 complaints recorded on 29 May 2016 were submitted from 215 cities across 38 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 43 | 16.2% |
| Florida | 21 | 7.9% |
| Maryland | 21 | 7.9% |
| Texas | 19 | 7.1% |
| New York | 12 | 4.5% |
| Ohio | 11 | 4.1% |
| Virginia | 11 | 4.1% |
| North Carolina | 10 | 3.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 10 | 3.8% |
| Kentucky | 8 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 100 | 37.6% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 5 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 117 complaints. This was followed by Internet, which accounted for 90 complaints.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 117 | 44.0% |
| Internet | 90 | 33.8% |
| TV | 41 | 15.4% |
| Radio | 16 | 6.0% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.8% |
Phone complaints
117 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 44.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 53 | 45.3% |
| Robocalls | 17 | 14.5% |
| Billing | 15 | 12.8% |
| Equipment | 8 | 6.8% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 6 | 5.1% |
| Privacy | 5 | 4.3% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 3.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 3 | 2.6% |
| Junk Faxes | 2 | 1.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 2 | 1.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 1.7% |
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
90 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 33.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 20 | 22.2% |
| Speed | 20 | 22.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 17 | 18.9% |
| Availability | 15 | 16.7% |
| Privacy | 9 | 10.0% |
| Equipment | 5 | 5.6% |
| Interference | 4 | 4.4% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Speed and Open Internet/Net Neutrality.
TV complaints
41 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 11 | 26.8% |
| Billing | 10 | 24.4% |
| Indecency | 6 | 14.6% |
| Interference | 6 | 14.6% |
| Loud Commercials | 6 | 14.6% |
| Equipment | 1 | 2.4% |
| Privacy | 1 | 2.4% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Availability, Billing and Indecency.
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.