FCC Consumer Complaints – 16 December 2018
Introduction
A total of 260 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 16 December 2018, this represented a decline from the 464 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 41 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 125 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 260
- States & territories reporting
- 41
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (125)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (34)
Where the complaints came from
The 260 complaints recorded on 16 December 2018 were submitted from 205 cities across 41 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. 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 | 34 | 13.1% |
| New Jersey | 20 | 7.7% |
| Texas | 19 | 7.3% |
| New York | 18 | 6.9% |
| Colorado | 15 | 5.8% |
| Kentucky | 12 | 4.6% |
| Florida | 11 | 4.2% |
| Wisconsin | 11 | 4.2% |
| Georgia | 10 | 3.8% |
| Michigan | 8 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 102 | 39.2% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 5 complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 176 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 176 | 67.7% |
| Internet | 40 | 15.4% |
| TV | 35 | 13.5% |
| Radio | 8 | 3.1% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
176 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 67.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 125 | 71.0% |
| Billing | 23 | 13.1% |
| Equipment | 16 | 9.1% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 6 | 3.4% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 4 | 2.3% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 1 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 1 | 0.6% |
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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
Internet complaints
40 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 14 | 35.0% |
| Billing | 10 | 25.0% |
| Availability | 7 | 17.5% |
| Privacy | 7 | 17.5% |
| Equipment | 1 | 2.5% |
| Interference | 1 | 2.5% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Speed and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
35 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 9 | 25.7% |
| Indecency | 6 | 17.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 6 | 17.1% |
| Availability | 5 | 14.3% |
| Equipment | 5 | 14.3% |
| Interference | 3 | 8.6% |
| Privacy | 1 | 2.9% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Indecency and Loud Commercials.
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.