FCC Consumer Complaints – 2 March 2021
Introduction
A total of 1170 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 2 March 2021, complaint volume increased from 1113 complaints the previous day. Reports were received from 50 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 719 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1170
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (719)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (115)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 1170 complaints were recorded on 2 March 2021, with reports originating from 746 cities in 50 states and territories. Complaints were spread broadly across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a significant share. Despite the overall distribution, a notable concentration at the city level was observed in Virginia, where Bristow accounted for 30 of the 48 complaints recorded in the state.
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 | 115 | 9.8% |
| Florida | 108 | 9.2% |
| Texas | 98 | 8.4% |
| New York | 68 | 5.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 54 | 4.6% |
| Virginia | 48 | 4.1% |
| North Carolina | 46 | 3.9% |
| Ohio | 46 | 3.9% |
| Arizona | 41 | 3.5% |
| Colorado | 40 | 3.4% |
| Other states and territories | 502 | 42.9% |
Location highlight
A large share of complaints in Virginia originated from Bristow, which accounted for most reports within the state.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 6 different complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 903 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 903 | 77.2% |
| Internet | 161 | 13.8% |
| TV | 92 | 7.9% |
| Radio | 11 | 0.9% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
903 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 77.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 719 | 79.6% |
| Billing | 63 | 7.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 35 | 3.9% |
| Equipment | 35 | 3.9% |
| Privacy | 16 | 1.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 12 | 1.3% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 9 | 1.0% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 7 | 0.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 7 | 0.8% |
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 Equipment.
Internet complaints
161 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 57 | 35.4% |
| Billing | 57 | 35.4% |
| Speed | 28 | 17.4% |
| Interference | 7 | 4.3% |
| Privacy | 7 | 4.3% |
| Equipment | 5 | 3.1% |
Availability and Billing were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
TV complaints
92 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 54 | 58.7% |
| Availability | 15 | 16.3% |
| Loud Commercials | 11 | 12.0% |
| Indecency | 7 | 7.6% |
| Equipment | 5 | 5.4% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
A total of 719 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 61.5% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact numbers are shown below where sufficient data is available.
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (833) 304-1447 | 9 | 1.3% |
| (315) 232-8257 | 4 | 0.6% |
| (575) 415-3745 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (909) 941-3419 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (912) 438-8564 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (970) 289-2733 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (970) 981-9904 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (201) 719-0714 | 1 | 0.1% |
| (202) 210-5632 | 1 | 0.1% |
| (202) 302-1730 | 1 | 0.1% |
Key patterns
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- (833) 304-1447 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.