FCC Consumer Complaints – 17 October 2016
Introduction
A total of 1146 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 17 October 2016, complaint volume increased from 479 complaints the day before. Reports were received from 52 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Billing was reported slightly more frequently than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1146
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Billing (310)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (133)
Where the complaints came from
On 17 October 2016, the 1146 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 762 cities across 52 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
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 | 133 | 11.6% |
| Florida | 100 | 8.7% |
| Texas | 86 | 7.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 55 | 4.8% |
| New York | 51 | 4.5% |
| Maryland | 47 | 4.1% |
| Virginia | 42 | 3.7% |
| Georgia | 38 | 3.3% |
| Illinois | 38 | 3.3% |
| Michigan | 38 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 517 | 45.1% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 6 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 677 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 677 | 59.1% |
| Internet | 259 | 22.6% |
| TV | 172 | 15.0% |
| Radio | 31 | 2.7% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.3% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
677 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 59.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Telemarketing (including do not call and spoofing) | 266 | 39.3% |
| Billing | 132 | 19.5% |
| Robocalls | 107 | 15.8% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 45 | 6.6% |
| Equipment | 39 | 5.8% |
| Privacy | 27 | 4.0% |
| Junk Faxes | 23 | 3.4% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 15 | 2.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 14 | 2.1% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 6 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.4% |
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
259 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 22.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 84 | 32.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 43 | 16.6% |
| Availability | 42 | 16.2% |
| Speed | 33 | 12.7% |
| Interference | 26 | 10.0% |
| Privacy | 17 | 6.6% |
| Equipment | 14 | 5.4% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Open Internet/Net Neutrality and Availability among the most common.
TV complaints
172 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 94 | 54.7% |
| Availability | 31 | 18.0% |
| Equipment | 16 | 9.3% |
| Indecency | 15 | 8.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 8 | 4.7% |
| Interference | 6 | 3.5% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.2% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Radio complaints
31 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 2.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Interference | 20 | 64.5% |
| Availability | 3 | 9.7% |
| Equipment | 3 | 9.7% |
| Indecency | 3 | 9.7% |
| Pirate Radio | 2 | 6.5% |
Interference and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
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.