FCC Consumer Complaints – 21 January 2018
Introduction
On Sunday, 21 January 2018, 305 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this represented a decline from the 448 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 42 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 109 complaints.
This date falls within a government shutdown period from 20 January 2018 to 22 January 2018. Complaint volumes during this period may be lower than usual.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 305
- States & territories reporting
- 42
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (109)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (34)
Where the complaints came from
The 305 complaints recorded on 21 January 2018 were submitted from 202 cities across 42 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 34 | 11.1% |
| Oregon | 23 | 7.5% |
| Texas | 23 | 7.5% |
| New York | 22 | 7.2% |
| Ohio | 21 | 6.9% |
| Florida | 12 | 3.9% |
| Massachusetts | 12 | 3.9% |
| Virginia | 12 | 3.9% |
| Kentucky | 11 | 3.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 11 | 3.6% |
| Other states and territories | 124 | 40.7% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 182 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 182 | 59.7% |
| TV | 64 | 21.0% |
| Internet | 50 | 16.4% |
| Radio | 7 | 2.3% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.3% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
182 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 59.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 109 | 59.9% |
| Billing | 25 | 13.7% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 23 | 12.6% |
| Privacy | 10 | 5.5% |
| Equipment | 6 | 3.3% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 4 | 2.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 2 | 1.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 2 | 1.1% |
| Junk Faxes | 1 | 0.5% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Interference (including signal jammers) and Privacy among the most common.
TV complaints
64 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 21.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 16 | 25.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 16 | 25.0% |
| Billing | 14 | 21.9% |
| Indecency | 8 | 12.5% |
| Interference | 4 | 6.3% |
| Equipment | 3 | 4.7% |
| Privacy | 2 | 3.1% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 1 | 1.6% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Availability, Loud Commercials and Billing among the most common.
Internet complaints
50 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 16.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 13 | 26.0% |
| Billing | 12 | 24.0% |
| Speed | 10 | 20.0% |
| Privacy | 7 | 14.0% |
| Interference | 4 | 8.0% |
| Equipment | 2 | 4.0% |
| Open Internet/Net Neutrality | 2 | 4.0% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Availability, Billing and Speed among the most 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.