FCC Consumer Complaints – 19 January 2020
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 276 consumer complaints on 19 January 2020 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 384 complaints the day before. The complaints came from 43 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 116 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 276
- States & territories reporting
- 43
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (116)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (30)
Where the complaints came from
The 276 complaints recorded on 19 January 2020 were submitted from 219 cities across 43 states and territories. Complaint reports were spread across multiple states and territories, without any one location accounting for a large share. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 30 | 10.9% |
| Florida | 20 | 7.2% |
| Texas | 20 | 7.2% |
| Maryland | 15 | 5.4% |
| New York | 15 | 5.4% |
| Arizona | 14 | 5.1% |
| Kentucky | 13 | 4.7% |
| Illinois | 12 | 4.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 12 | 4.3% |
| Washington | 12 | 4.3% |
| Other states and territories | 113 | 40.9% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 5 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 166 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 166 | 60.1% |
| TV | 63 | 22.8% |
| Internet | 41 | 14.9% |
| Radio | 5 | 1.8% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
166 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 60.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 116 | 69.9% |
| Equipment | 16 | 9.6% |
| Billing | 15 | 9.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 10 | 6.0% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 3 | 1.8% |
| Privacy | 3 | 1.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 1 | 0.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 1 | 0.6% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Equipment, Billing and Availability (including rural call completion).
TV complaints
63 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 22.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 30 | 47.6% |
| Billing | 14 | 22.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 9 | 14.3% |
| Indecency | 6 | 9.5% |
| Equipment | 2 | 3.2% |
| Interference | 2 | 3.2% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Internet complaints
41 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 14 | 34.1% |
| Speed | 12 | 29.3% |
| Availability | 11 | 26.8% |
| Interference | 2 | 4.9% |
| Equipment | 1 | 2.4% |
| Privacy | 1 | 2.4% |
Billing and Speed 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.