FCC Consumer Complaints – 17 January 2021
Introduction
A total of 336 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 17 January 2021, complaint volume fell from 495 complaints the previous day. 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 128 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 336
- States & territories reporting
- 44
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (128)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (33)
Where the complaints came from
On 17 January 2021, the 336 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 271 cities across 44 states and territories. Complaint activity was widely distributed across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a notable share of reports. At the city level, complaints were similarly dispersed, with no single location accounting for a notable share of the total.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 33 | 9.8% |
| Tennessee | 22 | 6.5% |
| Texas | 19 | 5.7% |
| Missouri | 18 | 5.4% |
| Florida | 17 | 5.1% |
| New York | 17 | 5.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 14 | 4.2% |
| New Jersey | 13 | 3.9% |
| Ohio | 13 | 3.9% |
| Michigan | 12 | 3.6% |
| Other states and territories | 158 | 47.0% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 181 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 181 | 53.9% |
| Internet | 75 | 22.3% |
| TV | 64 | 19.0% |
| Radio | 11 | 3.3% |
| Emergency | 4 | 1.2% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
181 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 53.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 128 | 70.7% |
| Billing | 18 | 9.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 13 | 7.2% |
| Equipment | 10 | 5.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 1.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 3 | 1.7% |
| Privacy | 3 | 1.7% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 2 | 1.1% |
| Junk Faxes | 1 | 0.6% |
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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
75 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 22.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 31 | 41.3% |
| Billing | 19 | 25.3% |
| Speed | 11 | 14.7% |
| Interference | 6 | 8.0% |
| Privacy | 6 | 8.0% |
| Equipment | 2 | 2.7% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
64 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 19.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 18 | 28.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 18 | 28.1% |
| Billing | 14 | 21.9% |
| Indecency | 7 | 10.9% |
| Equipment | 4 | 6.3% |
| Interference | 2 | 3.1% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.6% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Availability, Loud Commercials and Billing.
Unwanted calls
128 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 38.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (315) 232-8257 | 8 | 6.3% |
| (231) 747-5017 | 2 | 1.6% |
| (202) 964-9535 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (214) 236-1156 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (214) 833-9503 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (215) 400-9015 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (218) 244-0776 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (304) 546-2351 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (315) 232-8557 | 1 | 0.8% |
| (317) 709-0391 | 1 | 0.8% |
Key patterns
- Text Message was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (315) 232-8257 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.