FCC Consumer Complaints – 1 October 2017
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 375 consumer complaints on Sunday, 1 October 2017 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 416 complaints the previous day. Reports were received from 42 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 118 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 375
- States & territories reporting
- 42
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (118)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (41)
Where the complaints came from
Across 272 cities in 42 states and territories, a total of 375 complaints were recorded on 1 October 2017. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 41 | 10.9% |
| Florida | 36 | 9.6% |
| Texas | 26 | 6.9% |
| Colorado | 21 | 5.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 19 | 5.1% |
| New York | 18 | 4.8% |
| North Carolina | 16 | 4.3% |
| Georgia | 13 | 3.5% |
| Delaware | 12 | 3.2% |
| New Mexico | 12 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 161 | 42.9% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 4 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 196 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 196 | 52.3% |
| TV | 121 | 32.3% |
| Internet | 50 | 13.3% |
| Radio | 8 | 2.1% |
Phone complaints
196 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 52.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 118 | 60.2% |
| Billing | 25 | 12.8% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 23 | 11.7% |
| Equipment | 12 | 6.1% |
| Privacy | 7 | 3.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 2.0% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 3 | 1.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 2 | 1.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 1 | 0.5% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.5% |
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, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment among the most common.
TV complaints
121 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 32.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indecency | 55 | 45.5% |
| Availability | 27 | 22.3% |
| Billing | 19 | 15.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 9 | 7.4% |
| Equipment | 5 | 4.1% |
| Interference | 4 | 3.3% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 0.8% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.8% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Indecency and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
50 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 14 | 28.0% |
| Speed | 13 | 26.0% |
| Privacy | 8 | 16.0% |
| Billing | 5 | 10.0% |
| Equipment | 5 | 10.0% |
| Interference | 5 | 10.0% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Availability, Speed and Privacy among the most common.
Unwanted calls
A total of 118 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 31.5% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact numbers are shown below where sufficient data is available.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (202) 559-6029 | 8 | 6.8% |
| (619) 682-3477 | 3 | 2.5% |
| (203) 844-0257 | 2 | 1.7% |
| (510) 634-4636 | 2 | 1.7% |
| (844) 627-1117 | 2 | 1.7% |
| (954) 516-6813 | 2 | 1.7% |
| (202) 506-9423 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (202) 599-6029 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (202) 996-0202 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (203) 204-6157 | 1 | 0.8% |
Key patterns
- Unwanted call complaints were spread across multiple call types with similar counts.
- Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
- (202) 559-6029 stood out as the most frequently reported caller ID number.
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.