FCC Consumer Complaints – 16 April 2020
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 718 consumer complaints on 16 April 2020 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume fell from 767 complaints the previous day. Reports were received from 48 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 311 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 718
- States & territories reporting
- 48
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (311)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (82)
Where the complaints came from
Across 507 cities in 48 states and territories, a total of 718 complaints were recorded on 16 April 2020. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. 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 | 82 | 11.4% |
| Texas | 64 | 8.9% |
| Florida | 56 | 7.8% |
| New York | 45 | 6.3% |
| Massachusetts | 36 | 5.0% |
| Ohio | 33 | 4.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 31 | 4.3% |
| Illinois | 25 | 3.5% |
| Virginia | 25 | 3.5% |
| New Jersey | 23 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 298 | 41.5% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 432 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 432 | 60.2% |
| Internet | 185 | 25.8% |
| TV | 88 | 12.3% |
| Radio | 11 | 1.5% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.1% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
432 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 60.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 311 | 72.0% |
| Billing | 45 | 10.4% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 20 | 4.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 17 | 3.9% |
| Equipment | 15 | 3.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 8 | 1.9% |
| Privacy | 6 | 1.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 1.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 3 | 0.7% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.2% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 0.2% |
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, Availability (including rural call completion) and Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers).
Internet complaints
185 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 25.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 75 | 40.5% |
| Billing | 54 | 29.2% |
| Speed | 29 | 15.7% |
| Equipment | 10 | 5.4% |
| Interference | 9 | 4.9% |
| Privacy | 8 | 4.3% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
88 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 12.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 50 | 56.8% |
| Availability | 20 | 22.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 8.0% |
| Equipment | 4 | 4.5% |
| Indecency | 4 | 4.5% |
| Privacy | 2 | 2.3% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.1% |
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.