FCC Consumer Complaints – 21 March 2021
Introduction
On Sunday, 21 March 2021, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 355 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented a decline from the 501 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 45 states and territories, with Texas recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 145 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 355
- States & territories reporting
- 45
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (145)
- Most reported state/territory
- Texas (38)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 21 March 2021 show 355 complaints originating from 279 cities across 45 states and territories. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 38 | 10.7% |
| California | 35 | 9.9% |
| Florida | 21 | 5.9% |
| New York | 20 | 5.6% |
| Kentucky | 17 | 4.8% |
| Tennessee | 16 | 4.5% |
| Arizona | 13 | 3.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 13 | 3.7% |
| Washington | 13 | 3.7% |
| Michigan | 11 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 158 | 44.5% |
What the complaints were about
Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 211 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 211 | 59.4% |
| TV | 79 | 22.3% |
| Internet | 56 | 15.8% |
| Radio | 4 | 1.1% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.8% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.6% |
Phone complaints
211 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 59.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 145 | 68.7% |
| Billing | 28 | 13.3% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 11 | 5.2% |
| Equipment | 10 | 4.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 7 | 3.3% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 4 | 1.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 3 | 1.4% |
| Junk Faxes | 2 | 0.9% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.5% |
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.
TV complaints
79 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 22.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indecency | 44 | 55.7% |
| Availability | 14 | 17.7% |
| Billing | 10 | 12.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 8.9% |
| Interference | 3 | 3.8% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.3% |
Indecency and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Internet complaints
56 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 16 | 28.6% |
| Billing | 15 | 26.8% |
| Speed | 8 | 14.3% |
| Interference | 6 | 10.7% |
| Privacy | 6 | 10.7% |
| Equipment | 5 | 8.9% |
Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Availability, Billing and Speed.
Unwanted calls
145 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, accounting for 40.8% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| (315) 232-8257 | 6 | 4.1% |
| (209) 683-5147 | 1 | 0.7% |
| (214) 208-6386 | 1 | 0.7% |
| (262) 824-6293 | 1 | 0.7% |
| (267) 992-4641 | 1 | 0.7% |
| (303) 327-0848 | 1 | 0.7% |
| (307) 881-6754 | 1 | 0.7% |
| (313) 406-2811 | 1 | 0.7% |
| (317) 934-6899 | 1 | 0.7% |
| (360) 681-5080 | 1 | 0.7% |
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.