FCC Consumer Complaints – 28 April 2021
Introduction
A total of 1170 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday, 28 April 2021, complaint volume fell from 1290 complaints the day before. Reports were received from 50 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 708 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 1170
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (708)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (143)
Where the complaints came from
Across 722 cities in 50 states and territories, a total of 1170 complaints were recorded on 28 April 2021. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. At the city level, a significant concentration was observed in Maine, where Portland accounted for 26 of the 35 complaints recorded.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 143 | 12.2% |
| Texas | 135 | 11.5% |
| Florida | 85 | 7.3% |
| New York | 70 | 6.0% |
| North Carolina | 52 | 4.4% |
| Ohio | 48 | 4.1% |
| Georgia | 43 | 3.7% |
| New Jersey | 37 | 3.2% |
| Maryland | 35 | 3.0% |
| Maine | 35 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 486 | 41.5% |
Location highlights
- A large share of complaints in Maine originated from Portland, which accounted for most reports within the state.
- California had the widest distribution of complaints, with reports originating from 96 different cities.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 832 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 832 | 71.1% |
| TV | 180 | 15.4% |
| Internet | 110 | 9.4% |
| Broadband Story | 30 | 2.6% |
| Radio | 12 | 1.0% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.3% |
| Emergency | 2 | 0.2% |
Phone complaints
832 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 71.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 708 | 85.1% |
| Billing | 34 | 4.1% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 26 | 3.1% |
| Equipment | 22 | 2.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 12 | 1.4% |
| Privacy | 9 | 1.1% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 8 | 1.0% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 0.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 5 | 0.6% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 2 | 0.2% |
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. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
TV complaints
180 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indecency | 101 | 56.1% |
| Availability | 40 | 22.2% |
| Billing | 20 | 11.1% |
| Loud Commercials | 9 | 5.0% |
| Interference | 6 | 3.3% |
| Equipment | 3 | 1.7% |
| Privacy | 1 | 0.6% |
Indecency and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Internet complaints
110 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 35 | 31.8% |
| Billing | 31 | 28.2% |
| Speed | 18 | 16.4% |
| Interference | 16 | 14.5% |
| Privacy | 8 | 7.3% |
| Equipment | 2 | 1.8% |
Availability and Billing accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
Broadband Story complaints
30 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 2.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|
Unwanted calls
A total of 708 complaints relating to unwanted calls were recorded on this date, representing 60.5% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact numbers are shown below where sufficient data is available.
Most reported business contact numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (833) 304-1447 | 14 | 2.0% |
| (308) 773-5189 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (555) 555-5555 | 3 | 0.4% |
| (325) 669-1790 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (413) 307-6060 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (615) 280-8602 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (636) 628-8672 | 2 | 0.3% |
| (201) 468-8576 | 1 | 0.1% |
| (201) 468-8579 | 1 | 0.1% |
| (201) 475-1854 | 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.