FCC Consumer Complaints – 3 March 2019
Introduction
On 3 March 2019, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 268 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 453 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 36 states and territories, with Washington recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls was reported slightly more frequently than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 268
- States & territories reporting
- 36
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (115)
- Most reported state/territory
- Washington (30)
Where the complaints came from
Across 203 cities in 36 states and territories, a total of 268 complaints were recorded on 3 March 2019. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. Despite the overall distribution, a notable concentration at the city level was observed in Washington, where La conner accounted for 18 of the 30 complaints recorded in the state.
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 30 | 11.2% |
| California | 28 | 10.4% |
| Florida | 27 | 10.1% |
| New York | 23 | 8.6% |
| Texas | 20 | 7.5% |
| Kentucky | 16 | 6.0% |
| Ohio | 14 | 5.2% |
| New Jersey | 12 | 4.5% |
| Virginia | 10 | 3.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 80 | 29.9% |
Location highlight
A large share of complaints in Washington originated from La conner, which accounted for most reports within the state.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 5 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 169 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 169 | 63.1% |
| TV | 56 | 20.9% |
| Internet | 32 | 11.9% |
| Radio | 10 | 3.7% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
169 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 63.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 115 | 68.0% |
| Billing | 23 | 13.6% |
| Equipment | 11 | 6.5% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 9 | 5.3% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 5 | 3.0% |
| Junk Faxes | 3 | 1.8% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 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).
TV complaints
56 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 20.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 32 | 57.1% |
| Availability | 9 | 16.1% |
| Equipment | 5 | 8.9% |
| Interference | 5 | 8.9% |
| Indecency | 2 | 3.6% |
| Loud Commercials | 2 | 3.6% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.8% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
32 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 15 | 46.9% |
| Speed | 10 | 31.3% |
| Availability | 6 | 18.8% |
| Equipment | 1 | 3.1% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Speed, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
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.