FCC Consumer Complaints – 17 August 2019
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 422 consumer complaints on Saturday, 17 August 2019 relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 1069 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 45 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 230 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 422
- States & territories reporting
- 45
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (230)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (49)
Where the complaints came from
Across 335 cities in 45 states and territories, a total of 422 complaints were recorded on 17 August 2019. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location 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 | 49 | 11.6% |
| Texas | 45 | 10.7% |
| Florida | 36 | 8.5% |
| Arkansas | 24 | 5.7% |
| Illinois | 19 | 4.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 19 | 4.5% |
| Colorado | 17 | 4.0% |
| New York | 16 | 3.8% |
| Arizona | 14 | 3.3% |
| New Jersey | 14 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 169 | 40.0% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 7 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 298 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 298 | 70.6% |
| TV | 77 | 18.2% |
| Internet | 39 | 9.2% |
| Radio | 4 | 0.9% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.5% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.2% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
298 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 70.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 230 | 77.2% |
| Billing | 21 | 7.0% |
| Equipment | 13 | 4.4% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 11 | 3.7% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 8 | 2.7% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 2.0% |
| Privacy | 6 | 2.0% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 2 | 0.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 1 | 0.3% |
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
77 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 18.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 33 | 42.9% |
| Billing | 29 | 37.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 9 | 11.7% |
| Equipment | 3 | 3.9% |
| Indecency | 1 | 1.3% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.3% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.3% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Internet complaints
39 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 18 | 46.2% |
| Availability | 14 | 35.9% |
| Interference | 2 | 5.1% |
| Privacy | 2 | 5.1% |
| Speed | 2 | 5.1% |
| Equipment | 1 | 2.6% |
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.