FCC Consumer Complaints – 22 July 2021

Introduction

On Thursday, 22 July 2021, the Federal Communications Commission recorded 833 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services, this represented a decline from the 873 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 49 states and territories, and California generated the highest number of submissions with 132 complaints. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 453 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
833
States & territories reporting
49
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (453)
Most reported state/territory
California (132)

Where the complaints came from

On 22 July 2021, the 833 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 559 cities across 49 states and territories. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. 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
California 132 15.8%
Texas 66 7.9%
New York 61 7.3%
Florida 53 6.4%
Arizona 42 5.0%
Georgia 30 3.6%
Pennsylvania 29 3.5%
North Carolina 28 3.4%
Michigan 27 3.2%
Illinois 25 3.0%
Other states and territories 338 40.6%

What the complaints were about

A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 602 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 602 72.3%
Internet 127 15.2%
TV 91 10.9%
Radio 9 1.1%
Broadband Story 3 0.4%
Accessibility 1 0.1%

Phone complaints

602 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 72.3% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 453 75.2%
Availability (including rural call completion) 39 6.5%
Billing 39 6.5%
Equipment 22 3.7%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 14 2.3%
Privacy 11 1.8%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 9 1.5%
Interference (including signal jammers) 7 1.2%
Junk Faxes 7 1.2%
Rural Call Completion 1 0.2%

As is often the case in this category, unwanted calls were the most frequently reported issue. Further analysis of these complaints is provided below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Availability (including rural call completion), Billing and Equipment.

Internet complaints

127 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.2% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 56 44.1%
Billing 33 26.0%
Equipment 14 11.0%
Speed 12 9.4%
Privacy 7 5.5%
Interference 5 3.9%

The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.

TV complaints

91 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 10.9% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Indecency 30 33.0%
Billing 24 26.4%
Availability 21 23.1%
Loud Commercials 7 7.7%
Equipment 4 4.4%
Interference 4 4.4%
Privacy 1 1.1%

Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Indecency, Billing and Availability.

Page last updated: 23 July 2021 with FCC complaints data from 22 July 2021.

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.