FCC Consumer Complaints – 15 December 2017

Introduction

The Federal Communications Commission recorded 1529 consumer complaints on Friday, 15 December 2017 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 2422 complaints the day before. The complaints came from 54 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Complaints relating to Open Internet/Net Neutrality were marginally higher than for other issue types.

Key statistics

Total complaints
1529
States & territories reporting
54
Most common issue
Open Internet/Net Neutrality (601)
Most reported state/territory
California (199)

Where the complaints came from

The 1529 complaints recorded on 15 December 2017 originated from 980 cities across 54 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. 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 199 13.0%
Texas 114 7.5%
Florida 107 7.0%
New York 90 5.9%
Illinois 62 4.1%
Ohio 57 3.7%
North Carolina 52 3.4%
Georgia 51 3.3%
New Jersey 50 3.3%
Pennsylvania 49 3.2%
Other states and territories 698 45.7%

What the complaints were about

Complaints recorded on this date related to 5 different complaint categories. Internet accounted for the largest share, with 723 complaints. This was followed by Phone, which accounted for 716 complaints.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Internet 723 47.3%
Phone 716 46.8%
TV 74 4.8%
Radio 12 0.8%
Emergency 4 0.3%

Internet complaints

723 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 47.3% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 600 83.0%
Availability 38 5.3%
Billing 36 5.0%
Speed 22 3.0%
Privacy 12 1.7%
Interference 9 1.2%
Equipment 6 0.8%

Open Internet/Net Neutrality and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.

Phone complaints

716 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 46.8% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 574 80.2%
Billing 57 8.0%
Availability (including rural call completion) 23 3.2%
Privacy 18 2.5%
Equipment 14 2.0%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 8 1.1%
Junk Faxes 8 1.1%
Interference (including signal jammers) 6 0.8%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 6 0.8%
Open Internet/Net Neutrality 1 0.1%
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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Privacy.

TV complaints

74 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 4.8% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 33 44.6%
Availability 13 17.6%
Equipment 13 17.6%
Indecency 6 8.1%
Loud Commercials 6 8.1%
Privacy 2 2.7%
Interference 1 1.4%

Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.

Unwanted calls

574 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 37.5% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.

Most reported caller ID numbers

Telephone number Complaints Share
(516) 203-7003 5 0.9%
(202) 465-3723 4 0.7%
(202) 202-9110 3 0.5%
(443) 380-3444 3 0.5%
(202) 890-0798 2 0.3%
(425) 372-5310 2 0.3%
(470) 333-0096 2 0.3%
(646) 396-1351 2 0.3%
(682) 316-9109 2 0.3%
(701) 202-4911 2 0.3%

Key patterns

  • Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
  • Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
  • (516) 203-7003 was reported slightly more often than other caller ID numbers.
Page last updated: 10 December 2018 with FCC complaints data from 15 December 2017.

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.