FCC Consumer Complaints – 17 April 2019
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 1097 consumer complaints on 17 April 2019 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 1139 complaints the previous day. Reports were received from 49 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 790 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1097
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (790)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (139)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 17 April 2019 show 1097 complaints originating from 743 cities across 49 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 table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 139 | 12.7% |
| Texas | 78 | 7.1% |
| Florida | 77 | 7.0% |
| New York | 70 | 6.4% |
| Ohio | 63 | 5.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 53 | 4.8% |
| Georgia | 38 | 3.5% |
| New Jersey | 37 | 3.4% |
| North Carolina | 36 | 3.3% |
| Maryland | 34 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 472 | 43.0% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 6 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 942 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 942 | 85.9% |
| Internet | 76 | 6.9% |
| TV | 67 | 6.1% |
| Radio | 7 | 0.6% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.4% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
942 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 85.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 790 | 83.9% |
| Billing | 56 | 5.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 23 | 2.4% |
| Equipment | 23 | 2.4% |
| Junk Faxes | 16 | 1.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 13 | 1.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 0.7% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 7 | 0.7% |
| Privacy | 6 | 0.6% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 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. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment among the most common.
Internet complaints
76 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 41 | 53.9% |
| Availability | 15 | 19.7% |
| Speed | 10 | 13.2% |
| Interference | 4 | 5.3% |
| Privacy | 4 | 5.3% |
| Equipment | 2 | 2.6% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
67 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 37 | 55.2% |
| Availability | 16 | 23.9% |
| Equipment | 9 | 13.4% |
| Indecency | 2 | 3.0% |
| Loud Commercials | 2 | 3.0% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.5% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
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.