FCC Consumer Complaints – 17 March 2020
Introduction
A total of 674 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 17 March 2020, this was higher than the 469 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 48 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 426 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 674
- States & territories reporting
- 48
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (426)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (81)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 674 complaints were recorded on 17 March 2020, with reports originating from 486 cities in 48 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant 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 | 81 | 12.0% |
| Texas | 68 | 10.1% |
| Florida | 52 | 7.7% |
| New York | 40 | 5.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 30 | 4.5% |
| New Jersey | 27 | 4.0% |
| Michigan | 24 | 3.6% |
| North Carolina | 22 | 3.3% |
| Ohio | 22 | 3.3% |
| Illinois | 21 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 287 | 42.6% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 6 complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 524 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 524 | 77.7% |
| Internet | 89 | 13.2% |
| TV | 45 | 6.7% |
| Radio | 12 | 1.8% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.4% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
524 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 77.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 426 | 81.3% |
| Billing | 39 | 7.4% |
| Equipment | 16 | 3.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 16 | 3.1% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 15 | 2.9% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 1.0% |
| Privacy | 4 | 0.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 2 | 0.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 1 | 0.2% |
As is typical for this category, unwanted calls accounted for the largest share of complaints. A more detailed analysis of these reports is provided in the section below. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Equipment and Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) among the most common.
Internet complaints
89 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 36 | 40.4% |
| Billing | 32 | 36.0% |
| Speed | 12 | 13.5% |
| Privacy | 4 | 4.5% |
| Interference | 3 | 3.4% |
| Equipment | 2 | 2.2% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
45 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 31 | 68.9% |
| Availability | 6 | 13.3% |
| Equipment | 3 | 6.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 3 | 6.7% |
| Indecency | 1 | 2.2% |
| Interference | 1 | 2.2% |
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.