FCC Consumer Complaints – 7 January 2020
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 859 consumer complaints on Tuesday, 7 January 2020 relating to telecommunications services, this was higher than the 725 complaints recorded the day before. Complaints were reported across 48 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 481 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 859
- States & territories reporting
- 48
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (481)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (83)
Where the complaints came from
The 859 complaints recorded on 7 January 2020 were submitted from 584 cities across 48 states and territories. Complaints were spread broadly across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a significant 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 shows the distribution of complaints by state and territory for this date, highlighting the locations with the highest number of reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 83 | 9.7% |
| Texas | 73 | 8.5% |
| Florida | 62 | 7.2% |
| New York | 47 | 5.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 39 | 4.5% |
| Ohio | 37 | 4.3% |
| Colorado | 35 | 4.1% |
| Virginia | 35 | 4.1% |
| Michigan | 32 | 3.7% |
| Georgia | 30 | 3.5% |
| Other states and territories | 382 | 44.5% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 4 complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 636 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 636 | 74.0% |
| Internet | 108 | 12.6% |
| TV | 97 | 11.3% |
| Radio | 18 | 2.1% |
Phone complaints
636 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 74.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 481 | 75.6% |
| Billing | 56 | 8.8% |
| Equipment | 30 | 4.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 27 | 4.2% |
| Junk Faxes | 14 | 2.2% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 13 | 2.0% |
| Privacy | 7 | 1.1% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 3 | 0.5% |
| Rural Call Completion | 3 | 0.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 2 | 0.3% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
Internet complaints
108 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 45 | 41.7% |
| Availability | 32 | 29.6% |
| Speed | 15 | 13.9% |
| Interference | 7 | 6.5% |
| Privacy | 5 | 4.6% |
| Equipment | 4 | 3.7% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
97 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 50 | 51.5% |
| Availability | 26 | 26.8% |
| Equipment | 7 | 7.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 7.2% |
| Indecency | 5 | 5.2% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.0% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.0% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, 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.