FCC Consumer Complaints – 14 December 2016
Introduction
On 14 December 2016, 951 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this represented a decline from the 1003 complaints recorded the previous day. The complaints came from 50 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was reported slightly more frequently than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 951
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (408)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (110)
Where the complaints came from
The 951 complaints recorded on 14 December 2016 originated from 632 cities across 50 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. A notable concentration at the city level was observed in Maryland, where Frederick accounted for 36 of the 53 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 | 110 | 11.6% |
| Florida | 74 | 7.8% |
| New York | 60 | 6.3% |
| Texas | 58 | 6.1% |
| Maryland | 53 | 5.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 41 | 4.3% |
| New Jersey | 40 | 4.2% |
| Illinois | 36 | 3.8% |
| Georgia | 35 | 3.7% |
| Colorado | 31 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 411 | 43.2% |
Location highlights
- A large share of complaints in Maryland originated from Frederick, which accounted for most reports within the state.
- California had the widest distribution of complaints, with reports originating from 78 different cities.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 621 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 621 | 65.3% |
| Internet | 145 | 15.2% |
| TV | 119 | 12.5% |
| Radio | 58 | 6.1% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.4% |
| Emergency | 4 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
621 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 65.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 408 | 65.7% |
| Billing | 104 | 16.7% |
| Equipment | 27 | 4.3% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 24 | 3.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 21 | 3.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 11 | 1.8% |
| Privacy | 9 | 1.4% |
| Junk Faxes | 8 | 1.3% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 0.6% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 3 | 0.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.2% |
| Rural Call Completion | 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. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion) among the most common.
Internet complaints
145 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 46 | 31.7% |
| Availability | 29 | 20.0% |
| Speed | 29 | 20.0% |
| Privacy | 12 | 8.3% |
| Equipment | 11 | 7.6% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 11 | 7.6% |
| Interference | 7 | 4.8% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability and Speed among the most common.
TV complaints
119 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 60 | 50.4% |
| Availability | 22 | 18.5% |
| Equipment | 11 | 9.2% |
| Indecency | 11 | 9.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 8 | 6.7% |
| Interference | 5 | 4.2% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.7% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Radio complaints
58 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Interference | 46 | 79.3% |
| Indecency | 4 | 6.9% |
| Pirate Radio | 4 | 6.9% |
| Availability | 2 | 3.4% |
| Equipment | 2 | 3.4% |
Interference and Indecency 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.