FCC Consumer Complaints – 20 January 2017
Introduction
On 20 January 2017, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 918 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 996 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 50 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 474 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 918
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (474)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (119)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 20 January 2017 show 918 complaints originating from 624 cities across 50 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
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 | 119 | 13.0% |
| Texas | 80 | 8.7% |
| Florida | 56 | 6.1% |
| New York | 55 | 6.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 40 | 4.4% |
| Illinois | 38 | 4.1% |
| Maryland | 34 | 3.7% |
| Tennessee | 31 | 3.4% |
| Louisiana | 26 | 2.8% |
| North Carolina | 26 | 2.8% |
| Other states and territories | 413 | 45.0% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 5 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 655 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 655 | 71.4% |
| Internet | 123 | 13.4% |
| TV | 101 | 11.0% |
| Radio | 38 | 4.1% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
655 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 71.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 474 | 72.4% |
| Billing | 82 | 12.5% |
| Equipment | 32 | 4.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 17 | 2.6% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 13 | 2.0% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 11 | 1.7% |
| Privacy | 11 | 1.7% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 8 | 1.2% |
| Junk Faxes | 6 | 0.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 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, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
Internet complaints
123 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 48 | 39.0% |
| Availability | 22 | 17.9% |
| Speed | 18 | 14.6% |
| Privacy | 12 | 9.8% |
| Interference | 11 | 8.9% |
| Equipment | 6 | 4.9% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 6 | 4.9% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability and Speed.
TV complaints
101 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 66 | 65.3% |
| Availability | 18 | 17.8% |
| Equipment | 7 | 6.9% |
| Indecency | 4 | 4.0% |
| Interference | 4 | 4.0% |
| Privacy | 2 | 2.0% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Radio complaints
38 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 4.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indecency | 21 | 55.3% |
| Interference | 12 | 31.6% |
| Pirate Radio | 3 | 7.9% |
| Equipment | 2 | 5.3% |
Indecency and Interference 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.