FCC Consumer Complaints – 11 January 2020
Introduction
On Saturday, 11 January 2020, 378 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this was lower than the 883 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 44 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 217 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 378
- States & territories reporting
- 44
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (217)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (46)
Where the complaints came from
Across 288 cities in 44 states and territories, a total of 378 complaints were recorded on 11 January 2020. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
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 | 46 | 12.2% |
| Texas | 26 | 6.9% |
| Florida | 24 | 6.3% |
| Minnesota | 17 | 4.5% |
| Nevada | 16 | 4.2% |
| Georgia | 14 | 3.7% |
| Kentucky | 14 | 3.7% |
| Washington | 14 | 3.7% |
| Illinois | 13 | 3.4% |
| Louisiana | 13 | 3.4% |
| Other states and territories | 181 | 47.9% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 4 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 259 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 259 | 68.5% |
| TV | 56 | 14.8% |
| Internet | 54 | 14.3% |
| Radio | 9 | 2.4% |
Phone complaints
259 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 68.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 217 | 83.8% |
| Billing | 18 | 6.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 7 | 2.7% |
| Equipment | 7 | 2.7% |
| Privacy | 4 | 1.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 1.2% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 2 | 0.8% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.4% |
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.
TV complaints
56 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 22 | 39.3% |
| Availability | 16 | 28.6% |
| Loud Commercials | 14 | 25.0% |
| Indecency | 3 | 5.4% |
| Equipment | 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
54 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 20 | 37.0% |
| Availability | 17 | 31.5% |
| Privacy | 7 | 13.0% |
| Interference | 4 | 7.4% |
| Speed | 4 | 7.4% |
| Equipment | 2 | 3.7% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
217 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 57.4% of all complaints. Reports referenced both caller ID numbers and business contact numbers, with number tables shown where meaningful patterns are present.
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (206) 451-2661 | 5 | 2.3% |
| (786) 706-7956 | 2 | 0.9% |
| (202) 337-1292 | 1 | 0.5% |
| (202) 337-1493 | 1 | 0.5% |
| (206) 483-2125 | 1 | 0.5% |
| (207) 389-3956 | 1 | 0.5% |
| (208) 262-0000 | 1 | 0.5% |
| (213) 524-3799 | 1 | 0.5% |
| (281) 435-9124 | 1 | 0.5% |
| (302) 505-5385 | 1 | 0.5% |
Key patterns
- Abandoned Calls was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (206) 451-2661 stood out as the most frequently reported business contact number.
- Reports were spread across many different caller ID numbers, with no single number dominating.
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.