FCC Consumer Complaints – 15 September 2017
Introduction
On 15 September 2017, 982 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this was lower than the 1069 complaints recorded the previous day. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 600 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 982
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (600)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (104)
Where the complaints came from
Across 696 cities in 51 states and territories, a total of 982 complaints were recorded on 15 September 2017. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. 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 | 104 | 10.6% |
| Florida | 84 | 8.6% |
| Texas | 65 | 6.6% |
| New York | 59 | 6.0% |
| Ohio | 45 | 4.6% |
| North Carolina | 42 | 4.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 38 | 3.9% |
| New Jersey | 36 | 3.7% |
| Illinois | 33 | 3.4% |
| Virginia | 31 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 445 | 45.3% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 778 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 778 | 79.2% |
| TV | 98 | 10.0% |
| Internet | 90 | 9.2% |
| Radio | 12 | 1.2% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.3% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
778 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 79.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 600 | 77.1% |
| Billing | 83 | 10.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 25 | 3.2% |
| Equipment | 24 | 3.1% |
| Privacy | 19 | 2.4% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 8 | 1.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 0.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 4 | 0.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 3 | 0.4% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
98 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 61 | 62.2% |
| Availability | 17 | 17.3% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 7.1% |
| Equipment | 4 | 4.1% |
| Indecency | 4 | 4.1% |
| Privacy | 3 | 3.1% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.0% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.0% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
90 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 41 | 45.6% |
| Availability | 16 | 17.8% |
| Speed | 15 | 16.7% |
| Equipment | 6 | 6.7% |
| Interference | 5 | 5.6% |
| Privacy | 4 | 4.4% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 3 | 3.3% |
Billing and Availability 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.