FCC Consumer Complaints – 16 October 2016
Introduction
On 16 October 2016, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 479 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented a decline from the 804 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 41 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Billing, with 162 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 479
- States & territories reporting
- 41
- Most common issue
- Billing (162)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (75)
Where the complaints came from
On 16 October 2016, the 479 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 370 cities across 41 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 | 75 | 15.7% |
| Florida | 41 | 8.6% |
| Illinois | 28 | 5.8% |
| Texas | 26 | 5.4% |
| Washington | 24 | 5.0% |
| Colorado | 21 | 4.4% |
| New York | 21 | 4.4% |
| Georgia | 17 | 3.5% |
| Michigan | 17 | 3.5% |
| New Jersey | 17 | 3.5% |
| Other states and territories | 192 | 40.1% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 4 complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Internet, which accounted for 207 reports. This was followed by Phone, which accounted for 163 complaints.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Internet | 207 | 43.2% |
| Phone | 163 | 34.0% |
| TV | 94 | 19.6% |
| Radio | 15 | 3.1% |
Internet complaints
207 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 43.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 69 | 33.3% |
| Billing | 60 | 29.0% |
| Speed | 31 | 15.0% |
| Availability | 20 | 9.7% |
| Interference | 15 | 7.2% |
| Equipment | 10 | 4.8% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.0% |
Open Internet/Net Neutrality and Billing were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Phone complaints
163 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 34.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 61 | 37.4% |
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 44 | 27.0% |
| Robocalls | 11 | 6.7% |
| Equipment | 10 | 6.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 8 | 4.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 3.7% |
| Privacy | 6 | 3.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 5 | 3.1% |
| Junk Faxes | 5 | 3.1% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 2.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 1.8% |
Billing and Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
TV complaints
94 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 19.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 39 | 41.5% |
| Loud Commercials | 15 | 16.0% |
| Indecency | 13 | 13.8% |
| Availability | 11 | 11.7% |
| Interference | 6 | 6.4% |
| Equipment | 5 | 5.3% |
| Privacy | 3 | 3.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 2.1% |
Billing represented the largest share of complaints recorded in this category, with lower volumes reported across the remaining issues.
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.