FCC Consumer Complaints – 3 July 2016

Introduction

On 3 July 2016, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 245 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented a decline from the 436 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 38 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Billing recorded a slightly higher number of complaints than other issues.

Key statistics

Total complaints
245
States & territories reporting
38
Most common issue
Billing (42)
Most reported state/territory
California (34)

Where the complaints came from

A total of 245 complaints were recorded on 3 July 2016, with reports originating from 190 cities in 38 states and territories. Complaint reports were spread across multiple states and territories, without any one location accounting for a large share. 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 34 13.9%
Maryland 28 11.4%
Florida 20 8.2%
Georgia 17 6.9%
Ohio 15 6.1%
Texas 12 4.9%
North Carolina 11 4.5%
Illinois 8 3.3%
Massachusetts 8 3.3%
Pennsylvania 7 2.9%
Other states and territories 85 34.7%

What the complaints were about

The complaints recorded on this date fell into 6 different complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 89 reports. This was followed by Internet, which accounted for 78 complaints.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 89 36.3%
Internet 78 31.8%
TV 45 18.4%
Radio 30 12.2%
Emergency 2 0.8%
Accessibility 1 0.4%

Phone complaints

89 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 36.3% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) 29 32.6%
Robocalls 17 19.1%
Billing 14 15.7%
Equipment 9 10.1%
Availability (including rural call completion) 7 7.9%
Privacy 7 7.9%
Interference (including signal jammers) 4 4.5%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 2 2.2%

A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing), Robocalls and Billing among the most common.

Internet complaints

78 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 31.8% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 21 26.9%
Speed 21 26.9%
Billing 13 16.7%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 7 9.0%
Privacy 7 9.0%
Equipment 5 6.4%
Interference 4 5.1%

A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Availability, Speed and Billing among the most common.

TV complaints

45 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 18.4% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 15 33.3%
Availability 9 20.0%
Loud Commercials 9 20.0%
Interference 6 13.3%
Equipment 4 8.9%
Indecency 2 4.4%

A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability and Loud Commercials among the most common.

Radio complaints

30 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.2% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Interference 25 83.3%
Equipment 2 6.7%
Indecency 2 6.7%
Pirate Radio 1 3.3%

Interference and Equipment accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.

Page last updated: 10 December 2018 with FCC complaints data from 3 July 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.