FCC Consumer Complaints – 25 April 2021
Introduction
A total of 273 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Sunday, 25 April 2021, complaint volume fell from 399 complaints the day before. Complaints were reported across 49 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Unwanted Calls was reported slightly more frequently than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 273
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (97)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (29)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 273 complaints were recorded on 25 April 2021, with reports originating from 212 cities in 49 states and territories. Complaints were distributed across states and territories in a broadly even manner, with no individual location standing out significantly. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
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 | 29 | 10.6% |
| Texas | 27 | 9.9% |
| Florida | 18 | 6.6% |
| Kentucky | 14 | 5.1% |
| New York | 12 | 4.4% |
| Washington | 12 | 4.4% |
| Massachusetts | 10 | 3.7% |
| New Jersey | 10 | 3.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 10 | 3.7% |
| Arizona | 9 | 3.3% |
| Other states and territories | 122 | 44.7% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 8 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 147 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 147 | 53.8% |
| Internet | 55 | 20.1% |
| TV | 43 | 15.8% |
| Radio | 12 | 4.4% |
| Broadband Story | 9 | 3.3% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 1.5% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.7% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
147 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 53.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 97 | 66.0% |
| Billing | 27 | 18.4% |
| Equipment | 9 | 6.1% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 7 | 4.8% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 4 | 2.7% |
| Privacy | 2 | 1.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 1 | 0.7% |
As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
Internet complaints
55 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 20.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 21 | 38.2% |
| Billing | 14 | 25.5% |
| Speed | 8 | 14.5% |
| Interference | 7 | 12.7% |
| Equipment | 3 | 5.5% |
| Privacy | 2 | 3.6% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
43 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 12 | 27.9% |
| Loud Commercials | 11 | 25.6% |
| Billing | 9 | 20.9% |
| Indecency | 7 | 16.3% |
| Equipment | 2 | 4.7% |
| Interference | 2 | 4.7% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Availability, Loud Commercials and Billing.
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.