FCC Consumer Complaints – 14 March 2021
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 368 consumer complaints on 14 March 2021 relating to telecommunications services, this represented a decline from the 411 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 46 states and territories, with New York reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 167 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 368
- States & territories reporting
- 46
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (167)
- Most reported state/territory
- New York (44)
Where the complaints came from
On 14 March 2021, the 368 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 256 cities across 46 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 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 44 | 12.0% |
| California | 38 | 10.3% |
| Texas | 27 | 7.3% |
| Virginia | 25 | 6.8% |
| Florida | 22 | 6.0% |
| Georgia | 14 | 3.8% |
| Illinois | 14 | 3.8% |
| North Carolina | 13 | 3.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 13 | 3.5% |
| Kentucky | 12 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 146 | 39.7% |
Location highlight
California had the widest distribution of complaints, with reports originating from 27 different cities.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 257 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 257 | 69.8% |
| TV | 52 | 14.1% |
| Internet | 51 | 13.9% |
| Radio | 5 | 1.4% |
| Accessibility | 1 | 0.3% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.3% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
257 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 69.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 167 | 65.0% |
| Billing | 39 | 15.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 13 | 5.1% |
| Equipment | 13 | 5.1% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 10 | 3.9% |
| Privacy | 9 | 3.5% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 1.6% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 1 | 0.4% |
| Junk Faxes | 1 | 0.4% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment among the most common.
TV complaints
52 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 18 | 34.6% |
| Loud Commercials | 13 | 25.0% |
| Billing | 12 | 23.1% |
| Indecency | 8 | 15.4% |
| Equipment | 1 | 1.9% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Availability, Loud Commercials and Billing among the most common.
Internet complaints
51 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 13.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 22 | 43.1% |
| Billing | 11 | 21.6% |
| Speed | 8 | 15.7% |
| Interference | 4 | 7.8% |
| Privacy | 4 | 7.8% |
| Equipment | 2 | 3.9% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, 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.