FCC Consumer Complaints – 30 December 2016
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 810 consumer complaints on 30 December 2016 relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 914 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 50 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls was reported slightly more frequently than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 810
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (285)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (84)
Where the complaints came from
The 810 complaints recorded on 30 December 2016 were submitted from 566 cities across 50 states and territories. 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 summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 84 | 10.4% |
| Texas | 77 | 9.5% |
| Florida | 64 | 7.9% |
| New York | 46 | 5.7% |
| Illinois | 34 | 4.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 33 | 4.1% |
| Arizona | 29 | 3.6% |
| Ohio | 28 | 3.5% |
| Georgia | 24 | 3.0% |
| New Jersey | 24 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 367 | 45.3% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 5 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 447 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 447 | 55.2% |
| Internet | 191 | 23.6% |
| TV | 147 | 18.1% |
| Radio | 20 | 2.5% |
| Emergency | 5 | 0.6% |
Phone complaints
447 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 55.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 285 | 63.8% |
| Billing | 89 | 19.9% |
| Equipment | 22 | 4.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 17 | 3.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 12 | 2.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 8 | 1.8% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 1.3% |
| Privacy | 5 | 1.1% |
| Junk Faxes | 1 | 0.2% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 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. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
Internet complaints
191 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 23.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 78 | 40.8% |
| Availability | 43 | 22.5% |
| Speed | 23 | 12.0% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 20 | 10.5% |
| Equipment | 11 | 5.8% |
| Interference | 9 | 4.7% |
| Privacy | 7 | 3.7% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
147 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 18.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 76 | 51.7% |
| Availability | 26 | 17.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 25 | 17.0% |
| Equipment | 10 | 6.8% |
| Indecency | 5 | 3.4% |
| Interference | 2 | 1.4% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.7% |
Billing 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.