FCC Consumer Complaints – 18 December 2016
Introduction
On 18 December 2016, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 312 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 422 complaints recorded the previous day. The complaints came from 48 states and territories, with Maryland reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Billing recorded a slightly higher number of complaints than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 312
- States & territories reporting
- 48
- Most common issue
- Billing (73)
- Most reported state/territory
- Maryland (42)
Where the complaints came from
On 18 December 2016, the 312 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 240 cities across 48 states and territories. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. At the city level, a significant concentration was observed in Maryland, where Frederick accounted for 26 of the 42 complaints recorded.
The table below shows the distribution of complaints by state and territory for this date, highlighting the locations with the highest number of reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 42 | 13.5% |
| California | 25 | 8.0% |
| Florida | 22 | 7.1% |
| Texas | 19 | 6.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | 5.8% |
| New York | 15 | 4.8% |
| Georgia | 14 | 4.5% |
| Arizona | 11 | 3.5% |
| Massachusetts | 11 | 3.5% |
| Indiana | 9 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 126 | 40.4% |
Location highlight
Complaints in Maryland were heavily concentrated in Frederick, which accounted for the majority of reports within the state.
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 5 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 116 complaints. This was followed by TV, which accounted for 84 complaints.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 116 | 37.2% |
| TV | 84 | 26.9% |
| Internet | 76 | 24.4% |
| Radio | 33 | 10.6% |
| Emergency | 3 | 1.0% |
Phone complaints
116 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 37.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 51 | 44.0% |
| Billing | 33 | 28.4% |
| Equipment | 7 | 6.0% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 7 | 6.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 5 | 4.3% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 4.3% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 3.4% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.9% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.9% |
As is typical for this category, unwanted calls accounted for the largest share of complaints. A more detailed analysis of these reports is provided in the section below. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Equipment and Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) among the most common.
TV complaints
84 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 26.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 25 | 29.8% |
| Indecency | 24 | 28.6% |
| Availability | 16 | 19.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 14 | 16.7% |
| Equipment | 3 | 3.6% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.2% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Indecency and Availability among the most common.
Internet complaints
76 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 24.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 22 | 28.9% |
| Billing | 15 | 19.7% |
| Speed | 12 | 15.8% |
| Interference | 9 | 11.8% |
| Equipment | 6 | 7.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 6 | 7.9% |
| Privacy | 6 | 7.9% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Availability, Billing and Speed among the most common.
Radio complaints
33 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Interference | 31 | 93.9% |
| Pirate Radio | 2 | 6.1% |
Interference and Pirate Radio were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
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.