FCC Consumer Complaints – 17 November 2016
Introduction
On 17 November 2016, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 1010 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume increased from 915 complaints the previous day. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 540 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1010
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (540)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (145)
Where the complaints came from
The 1010 complaints recorded on 17 November 2016 were submitted from 630 cities across 51 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. A notable concentration at the city level was observed in New York, where New york accounted for 71 of the 111 complaints recorded in the state.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 145 | 14.4% |
| New York | 111 | 11.0% |
| Florida | 70 | 6.9% |
| Texas | 60 | 5.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 45 | 4.5% |
| Maryland | 40 | 4.0% |
| Illinois | 38 | 3.8% |
| New Jersey | 34 | 3.4% |
| Virginia | 34 | 3.4% |
| Georgia | 30 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 402 | 39.8% |
Location highlights
- A large share of complaints in New York originated from New york, which accounted for most reports within the state.
- California had the widest distribution of complaints, with reports originating from 86 different cities.
What the complaints were about
A total of 7 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 730 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 730 | 72.3% |
| Internet | 132 | 13.1% |
| TV | 103 | 10.2% |
| Radio | 39 | 3.9% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
730 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 72.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 540 | 74.0% |
| Billing | 78 | 10.7% |
| Equipment | 34 | 4.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 28 | 3.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 19 | 2.6% |
| Privacy | 12 | 1.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 9 | 1.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 0.8% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 2 | 0.3% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 0.3% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
Internet complaints
132 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 38 | 28.8% |
| Availability | 23 | 17.4% |
| Speed | 21 | 15.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 18 | 13.6% |
| Equipment | 11 | 8.3% |
| Interference | 11 | 8.3% |
| Privacy | 10 | 7.6% |
Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.
TV complaints
103 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 54 | 52.4% |
| Availability | 14 | 13.6% |
| Equipment | 9 | 8.7% |
| Indecency | 9 | 8.7% |
| Interference | 6 | 5.8% |
| Loud Commercials | 6 | 5.8% |
| Privacy | 4 | 3.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.0% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Radio complaints
39 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 3.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Interference | 27 | 69.2% |
| Availability | 5 | 12.8% |
| Indecency | 4 | 10.3% |
| Pirate Radio | 2 | 5.1% |
| Equipment | 1 | 2.6% |
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.