FCC Consumer Complaints – 5 December 2016
Introduction
On 5 December 2016, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 810 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was higher than the 278 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 47 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls recorded a slightly higher number of complaints than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 810
- States & territories reporting
- 47
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (298)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (98)
Where the complaints came from
The 810 complaints recorded on 5 December 2016 were submitted from 561 cities across 47 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. 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 | 98 | 12.1% |
| Florida | 73 | 9.0% |
| New York | 58 | 7.2% |
| Texas | 56 | 6.9% |
| Maryland | 53 | 6.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 33 | 4.1% |
| Michigan | 26 | 3.2% |
| Georgia | 25 | 3.1% |
| Illinois | 23 | 2.8% |
| Virginia | 23 | 2.8% |
| Other states and territories | 338 | 41.7% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 5 complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 519 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 519 | 64.1% |
| Internet | 133 | 16.4% |
| TV | 112 | 13.8% |
| Radio | 45 | 5.6% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
519 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 64.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 298 | 57.4% |
| Billing | 104 | 20.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 30 | 5.8% |
| Equipment | 29 | 5.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 19 | 3.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 14 | 2.7% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 11 | 2.1% |
| Privacy | 8 | 1.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 2 | 0.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 0.4% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.2% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
133 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 16.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 48 | 36.1% |
| Availability | 27 | 20.3% |
| Speed | 25 | 18.8% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 10 | 7.5% |
| Equipment | 8 | 6.0% |
| Interference | 8 | 6.0% |
| Privacy | 7 | 5.3% |
Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.
TV complaints
112 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 64 | 57.1% |
| Availability | 19 | 17.0% |
| Equipment | 13 | 11.6% |
| Indecency | 8 | 7.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 4 | 3.6% |
| Interference | 3 | 2.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.9% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Radio complaints
45 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 5.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Interference | 38 | 84.4% |
| Indecency | 3 | 6.7% |
| Pirate Radio | 2 | 4.4% |
| Availability | 1 | 2.2% |
| Equipment | 1 | 2.2% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Interference and Indecency, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
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.