FCC Consumer Complaints – 20 March 2021
Introduction
A total of 501 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Saturday, 20 March 2021, this was lower than the 1411 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 48 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 271 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 501
- States & territories reporting
- 48
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (271)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (62)
Where the complaints came from
The 501 complaints recorded on 20 March 2021 originated from 373 cities across 48 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. This pattern continues at the city level, where complaints were distributed across multiple locations without a single city standing out.
The table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 62 | 12.4% |
| Florida | 41 | 8.2% |
| Texas | 40 | 8.0% |
| Ohio | 26 | 5.2% |
| New York | 24 | 4.8% |
| Colorado | 21 | 4.2% |
| Arizona | 17 | 3.4% |
| North Carolina | 17 | 3.4% |
| Virginia | 16 | 3.2% |
| Michigan | 15 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 221 | 44.1% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 5 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 327 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 327 | 65.3% |
| TV | 105 | 21.0% |
| Internet | 57 | 11.4% |
| Radio | 10 | 2.0% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
327 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 65.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 271 | 82.9% |
| Billing | 20 | 6.1% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 12 | 3.7% |
| Equipment | 9 | 2.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 6 | 1.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 6 | 1.8% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 2 | 0.6% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.3% |
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. 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
105 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 21.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indecency | 43 | 41.0% |
| Availability | 18 | 17.1% |
| Billing | 17 | 16.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 16 | 15.2% |
| Privacy | 5 | 4.8% |
| Interference | 3 | 2.9% |
| Equipment | 2 | 1.9% |
Indecency represented the largest share of complaints recorded in this category, with lower volumes reported across the remaining issues.
Internet complaints
57 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 21 | 36.8% |
| Billing | 13 | 22.8% |
| Speed | 9 | 15.8% |
| Interference | 7 | 12.3% |
| Privacy | 6 | 10.5% |
| Equipment | 1 | 1.8% |
A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Availability, Billing and Speed among the most common.
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.