FCC Consumer Complaints – 26 March 2017
Introduction
On Sunday, 26 March 2017, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 268 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 425 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 43 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Billing was reported slightly more frequently than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 268
- States & territories reporting
- 43
- Most common issue
- Billing (72)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (35)
Where the complaints came from
Across 221 cities in 43 states and territories, a total of 268 complaints were recorded on 26 March 2017. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 35 | 13.1% |
| Florida | 24 | 9.0% |
| New York | 23 | 8.6% |
| Illinois | 14 | 5.2% |
| Maryland | 13 | 4.9% |
| Wisconsin | 12 | 4.5% |
| Michigan | 11 | 4.1% |
| North Carolina | 10 | 3.7% |
| Georgia | 9 | 3.4% |
| New Jersey | 9 | 3.4% |
| Other states and territories | 108 | 40.3% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 130 complaints. This was followed by Internet, which accounted for 67 complaints.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 130 | 48.5% |
| Internet | 67 | 25.0% |
| TV | 57 | 21.3% |
| Radio | 7 | 2.6% |
| Accessibility | 6 | 2.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
130 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 48.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 70 | 53.8% |
| Billing | 24 | 18.5% |
| Equipment | 12 | 9.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 9 | 6.9% |
| Privacy | 7 | 5.4% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 5 | 3.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 1 | 0.8% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 1 | 0.8% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.8% |
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 Availability (including rural call completion) among the most common.
Internet complaints
67 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 25.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 24 | 35.8% |
| Availability | 16 | 23.9% |
| Speed | 13 | 19.4% |
| Privacy | 6 | 9.0% |
| Equipment | 4 | 6.0% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 4 | 6.0% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability and Speed among the most common.
TV complaints
57 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 21.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 24 | 42.1% |
| Availability | 16 | 28.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 8 | 14.0% |
| Equipment | 5 | 8.8% |
| Indecency | 3 | 5.3% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.8% |
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.