FCC Consumer Complaints – 20 October 2019
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 320 consumer complaints on Sunday, 20 October 2019 relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 406 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 42 states and territories, with Rhode Island reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 127 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 320
- States & territories reporting
- 42
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (127)
- Most reported state/territory
- Rhode Island (30)
Where the complaints came from
The 320 complaints recorded on 20 October 2019 originated from 231 cities across 42 states and territories. The complaints were widely dispersed, with no single state or territory representing a notable proportion of the total. A notable concentration at the city level was observed in Rhode Island, where Providence accounted for 24 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | 30 | 9.4% |
| California | 27 | 8.4% |
| Florida | 27 | 8.4% |
| North Carolina | 25 | 7.8% |
| Texas | 15 | 4.7% |
| Ohio | 14 | 4.4% |
| New York | 12 | 3.8% |
| Virginia | 12 | 3.8% |
| Wisconsin | 11 | 3.4% |
| Illinois | 9 | 2.8% |
| Other states and territories | 138 | 43.1% |
Location highlight
Complaints in Rhode Island were heavily concentrated in Providence, which accounted for the majority of reports within the state.
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 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 | 52.8% |
| Internet | 73 | 22.8% |
| TV | 70 | 21.9% |
| Radio | 6 | 1.9% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.3% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
169 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 52.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 127 | 75.1% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 10 | 5.9% |
| Billing | 9 | 5.3% |
| Equipment | 8 | 4.7% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 3.6% |
| Privacy | 5 | 3.0% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 2 | 1.2% |
| Junk Faxes | 1 | 0.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 1 | 0.6% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Availability (including rural call completion), Billing and Equipment.
Internet complaints
73 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 22.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | 24 | 32.9% |
| Availability | 19 | 26.0% |
| Billing | 12 | 16.4% |
| Interference | 8 | 11.0% |
| Speed | 8 | 11.0% |
| Equipment | 2 | 2.7% |
Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Privacy, Availability and Billing.
TV complaints
70 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 21.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 34 | 48.6% |
| Billing | 18 | 25.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 11 | 15.7% |
| Indecency | 6 | 8.6% |
| Equipment | 1 | 1.4% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Unwanted calls
There were 127 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 39.7% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact number details are listed below where there is enough concentration to make the data meaningful.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (800) 275-2273 | 6 | 4.7% |
| (336) 508-0087 | 2 | 1.6% |
| (704) 367-5671 | 2 | 1.6% |
| (897) 766-7736 | 2 | 1.6% |
| (202) 918-4700 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (208) 262-0000 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (210) 493-7317 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (216) 883-5265 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (223) 536-4543 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (301) 634-9930 | 1 | 0.8% |
Key patterns
- Abandoned Calls was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
- (800) 275-2273 stood out as the most frequently reported caller ID number.
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.