FCC Consumer Complaints – 4 March 2021
Introduction
On Thursday, 4 March 2021, 1112 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this represented a decline from the 1213 complaints recorded the previous day. The complaints came from 52 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 694 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1112
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (694)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (123)
Where the complaints came from
The 1112 complaints recorded on 4 March 2021 originated from 708 cities across 52 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. Despite the overall distribution, a notable concentration at the city level was observed in Arkansas, where Blytheville accounted for 36 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 | 123 | 11.1% |
| Texas | 89 | 8.0% |
| Florida | 85 | 7.6% |
| New York | 71 | 6.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 59 | 5.3% |
| Arkansas | 48 | 4.3% |
| Illinois | 39 | 3.5% |
| Massachusetts | 37 | 3.3% |
| Virginia | 35 | 3.1% |
| New Jersey | 34 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 489 | 44.0% |
Location highlights
- Complaints in Arkansas were heavily concentrated in Blytheville, which accounted for the majority of reports within the state.
- California had the widest distribution of complaints, with reports originating from 84 different cities.
What the complaints were about
A total of 5 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 843 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 843 | 75.8% |
| Internet | 176 | 15.8% |
| TV | 82 | 7.4% |
| Radio | 9 | 0.8% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
843 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 694 | 82.3% |
| Billing | 53 | 6.3% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 35 | 4.2% |
| Equipment | 21 | 2.5% |
| Junk Faxes | 13 | 1.5% |
| Privacy | 12 | 1.4% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 11 | 1.3% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 2 | 0.2% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 2 | 0.2% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment among the most common.
Internet complaints
176 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 56 | 31.8% |
| Speed | 54 | 30.7% |
| Billing | 38 | 21.6% |
| Interference | 14 | 8.0% |
| Equipment | 7 | 4.0% |
| Privacy | 7 | 4.0% |
Availability and Speed were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
TV complaints
82 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 7.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 41 | 50.0% |
| Availability | 17 | 20.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 13 | 15.9% |
| Indecency | 4 | 4.9% |
| Interference | 3 | 3.7% |
| Equipment | 2 | 2.4% |
| Privacy | 2 | 2.4% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
694 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 62.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (833) 304-1447 | 10 | 1.4% |
| (315) 232-8257 | 5 | 0.7% |
| (201) 468-8576 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (208) 684-7497 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (214) 281-5470 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (571) 669-4077 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (720) 307-0266 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (803) 702-4711 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (202) 968-6667 | 1 | 0.1% |
| (203) 642-4668 | 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.