FCC Consumer Complaints – 7 February 2020
Introduction
On Friday, 7 February 2020, 954 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this was lower than the 1065 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 52 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 596 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 954
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (596)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (98)
Where the complaints came from
On 7 February 2020, the 954 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 652 cities across 52 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
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 | 98 | 10.3% |
| Texas | 78 | 8.2% |
| Florida | 77 | 8.1% |
| New York | 54 | 5.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 51 | 5.3% |
| North Carolina | 46 | 4.8% |
| Arizona | 36 | 3.8% |
| Michigan | 36 | 3.8% |
| Illinois | 35 | 3.7% |
| Georgia | 33 | 3.5% |
| Other states and territories | 409 | 42.9% |
Location highlight
Complaints in California were reported across 75 cities, the widest spread observed on this date.
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 5 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 742 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 742 | 77.8% |
| TV | 104 | 10.9% |
| Internet | 94 | 9.9% |
| Radio | 12 | 1.3% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
742 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 77.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 596 | 80.3% |
| Billing | 50 | 6.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 23 | 3.1% |
| Equipment | 21 | 2.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 20 | 2.7% |
| Privacy | 11 | 1.5% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 9 | 1.2% |
| Junk Faxes | 7 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 0.4% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.1% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.1% |
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
104 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 40 | 38.5% |
| Indecency | 28 | 26.9% |
| Availability | 22 | 21.2% |
| Equipment | 6 | 5.8% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 4.8% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.9% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.0% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Indecency, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Internet complaints
94 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 41 | 43.6% |
| Availability | 24 | 25.5% |
| Speed | 12 | 12.8% |
| Interference | 7 | 7.4% |
| Equipment | 5 | 5.3% |
| Privacy | 5 | 5.3% |
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.