FCC Consumer Complaints – 1 February 2021
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 1024 consumer complaints on 1 February 2021 relating to telecommunications services, complaint volume increased from 391 complaints the day before. Reports were received from 51 states and territories, with Texas recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 591 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1024
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (591)
- Most reported state/territory
- Texas (120)
Where the complaints came from
On 1 February 2021, the 1024 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 662 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 120 | 11.7% |
| California | 94 | 9.2% |
| Florida | 92 | 9.0% |
| New York | 62 | 6.1% |
| Ohio | 40 | 3.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 36 | 3.5% |
| Georgia | 34 | 3.3% |
| Illinois | 34 | 3.3% |
| Virginia | 32 | 3.1% |
| New Jersey | 30 | 2.9% |
| Other states and territories | 447 | 43.7% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 7 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 761 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 761 | 74.3% |
| Internet | 152 | 14.8% |
| TV | 89 | 8.7% |
| Radio | 13 | 1.3% |
| Accessibility | 6 | 0.6% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 2 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
761 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 74.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 591 | 77.7% |
| Billing | 58 | 7.6% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 38 | 5.0% |
| Equipment | 35 | 4.6% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 9 | 1.2% |
| Privacy | 9 | 1.2% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 8 | 1.1% |
| Junk Faxes | 7 | 0.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 6 | 0.8% |
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
152 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 60 | 39.5% |
| Availability | 44 | 28.9% |
| Speed | 25 | 16.4% |
| Equipment | 11 | 7.2% |
| Interference | 6 | 3.9% |
| Privacy | 6 | 3.9% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
89 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 32 | 36.0% |
| Availability | 25 | 28.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 12 | 13.5% |
| Indecency | 9 | 10.1% |
| Equipment | 6 | 6.7% |
| Interference | 4 | 4.5% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.1% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
Unwanted calls
There were 591 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 57.7% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact number details are listed below where there is enough concentration to make the data meaningful.
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (315) 232-8257 | 13 | 2.2% |
| (315) 816-7806 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (540) 628-8490 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (804) 729-3263 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (866) 530-6013 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (929) 481-6979 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (202) 858-8276 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (202) 953-8753 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (203) 912-0645 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (204) 939-1557 | 1 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice 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.