FCC Consumer Complaints – 14 January 2017
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 406 consumer complaints on 14 January 2017 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 888 complaints the previous day. Reports were received from 47 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
- 406
- States & territories reporting
- 47
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (154)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (52)
Where the complaints came from
Across 309 cities in 47 states and territories, a total of 406 complaints were recorded on 14 January 2017. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
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 | 52 | 12.8% |
| Texas | 45 | 11.1% |
| Florida | 21 | 5.2% |
| Maryland | 21 | 5.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 21 | 5.2% |
| Illinois | 20 | 4.9% |
| Massachusetts | 18 | 4.4% |
| Ohio | 18 | 4.4% |
| Michigan | 16 | 3.9% |
| North Carolina | 14 | 3.4% |
| Other states and territories | 160 | 39.4% |
Location highlight
California had the widest distribution of complaints, with reports originating from 42 different cities.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 5 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 225 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 225 | 55.4% |
| Internet | 106 | 26.1% |
| TV | 53 | 13.1% |
| Radio | 21 | 5.2% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
225 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 55.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 154 | 68.4% |
| Billing | 33 | 14.7% |
| Equipment | 17 | 7.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 6 | 2.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 6 | 2.7% |
| Privacy | 5 | 2.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 2 | 0.9% |
| Junk Faxes | 1 | 0.4% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.4% |
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
106 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 26.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 46 | 43.4% |
| Availability | 15 | 14.2% |
| Speed | 15 | 14.2% |
| Privacy | 13 | 12.3% |
| Interference | 7 | 6.6% |
| Equipment | 5 | 4.7% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 5 | 4.7% |
Billing represented the largest share of complaints recorded in this category, with lower volumes reported across the remaining issues.
TV complaints
53 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 25 | 47.2% |
| Availability | 21 | 39.6% |
| Equipment | 6 | 11.3% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.9% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, 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.