FCC Consumer Complaints – 2 October 2016
Introduction
On Sunday, 2 October 2016, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 327 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented a decline from the 430 complaints recorded the day before. Complaints were reported across 40 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Billing recorded a slightly higher number of complaints than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 327
- States & territories reporting
- 40
- Most common issue
- Billing (88)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (40)
Where the complaints came from
Across 256 cities in 40 states and territories, a total of 327 complaints were recorded on 2 October 2016. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. 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 | 40 | 12.2% |
| Florida | 33 | 10.1% |
| Texas | 33 | 10.1% |
| New York | 18 | 5.5% |
| Ohio | 18 | 5.5% |
| Massachusetts | 13 | 4.0% |
| Maryland | 13 | 4.0% |
| Washington | 13 | 4.0% |
| Georgia | 12 | 3.7% |
| New Jersey | 12 | 3.7% |
| Other states and territories | 122 | 37.3% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 4 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 142 complaints. This was followed by Internet, which accounted for 96 complaints.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 142 | 43.4% |
| Internet | 96 | 29.4% |
| TV | 79 | 24.2% |
| Radio | 10 | 3.1% |
Phone complaints
142 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 43.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 45 | 31.7% |
| Billing | 32 | 22.5% |
| Robocalls | 20 | 14.1% |
| Equipment | 13 | 9.2% |
| Privacy | 8 | 5.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 7 | 4.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 4.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 5 | 3.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 2 | 1.4% |
| Junk Faxes | 2 | 1.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 1.4% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing), Billing and Robocalls among the most common.
Internet complaints
96 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 29.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 33 | 34.4% |
| Privacy | 16 | 16.7% |
| Availability | 15 | 15.6% |
| Speed | 12 | 12.5% |
| Equipment | 8 | 8.3% |
| Interference | 6 | 6.3% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 6 | 6.3% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Privacy and Availability among the most common.
TV complaints
79 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 24.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 23 | 29.1% |
| Availability | 19 | 24.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 15 | 19.0% |
| Indecency | 12 | 15.2% |
| Equipment | 4 | 5.1% |
| Interference | 3 | 3.8% |
| Privacy | 2 | 2.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.3% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability and Loud Commercials among the most common.
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.