FCC Consumer Complaints – 21 December 2016
Introduction
On 21 December 2016, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 868 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 931 complaints recorded the day before. Complaints were reported across 49 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 424 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 868
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (424)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (107)
Where the complaints came from
Across 607 cities in 49 states and territories, a total of 868 complaints were recorded on 21 December 2016. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 107 | 12.3% |
| Florida | 79 | 9.1% |
| Texas | 55 | 6.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 52 | 6.0% |
| New York | 47 | 5.4% |
| Michigan | 38 | 4.4% |
| Maryland | 37 | 4.3% |
| Georgia | 27 | 3.1% |
| Illinois | 27 | 3.1% |
| Massachusetts | 25 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 372 | 42.9% |
Location highlight
Complaints in California were reported across 70 cities, the widest spread observed on this date.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 600 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 600 | 69.1% |
| Internet | 121 | 13.9% |
| TV | 118 | 13.6% |
| Radio | 26 | 3.0% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.2% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
600 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 69.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 424 | 70.7% |
| Billing | 78 | 13.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 27 | 4.5% |
| Equipment | 20 | 3.3% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 13 | 2.2% |
| Junk Faxes | 11 | 1.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 10 | 1.7% |
| Privacy | 9 | 1.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 0.8% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.2% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.2% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.2% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
121 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 33 | 27.3% |
| Billing | 33 | 27.3% |
| Speed | 23 | 19.0% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 11 | 9.1% |
| Equipment | 9 | 7.4% |
| Interference | 6 | 5.0% |
| Privacy | 6 | 5.0% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Availability, Billing and Speed.
TV complaints
118 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 59 | 50.0% |
| Equipment | 15 | 12.7% |
| Availability | 14 | 11.9% |
| Indecency | 14 | 11.9% |
| Loud Commercials | 10 | 8.5% |
| Interference | 4 | 3.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.8% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.8% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Equipment, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
424 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 48.8% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (888) 727-1127 | 6 | 1.4% |
| (320) 582-9749 | 5 | 1.2% |
| (503) 255-6141 | 5 | 1.2% |
| (801) 351-5062 | 5 | 1.2% |
| (361) 645-8595 | 4 | 0.9% |
| (406) 982-3468 | 4 | 0.9% |
| (786) 209-0861 | 4 | 0.9% |
| (855) 653-4481 | 4 | 0.9% |
| (888) 307-0680 | 4 | 0.9% |
| (310) 805-6954 | 3 | 0.7% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
- (888) 727-1127 was reported slightly more often than other caller ID numbers.
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.