FCC Consumer Complaints – 11 September 2021

Introduction

On 11 September 2021, 395 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this represented a decline from the 1013 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 45 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. The largest number of complaints related to Unwanted Calls, with 181 complaints.

Key statistics

Total complaints
395
States & territories reporting
45
Most common issue
Unwanted Calls (181)
Most reported state/territory
California (60)

Where the complaints came from

The 395 complaints recorded on 11 September 2021 originated from 276 cities across 45 states and territories. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory contributing a dominant share. 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 60 15.2%
Texas 47 11.9%
Colorado 42 10.6%
Florida 23 5.8%
New York 16 4.1%
North Carolina 12 3.0%
Ohio 11 2.8%
Arizona 10 2.5%
Illinois 10 2.5%
Massachusetts 10 2.5%
Other states and territories 154 39.0%

Location highlight

Complaints in California were reported across 35 cities, the widest spread observed on this date.

What the complaints were about

Complaints recorded on this date related to 6 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 252 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.

Complaint category Complaints Share
Phone 252 63.8%
Internet 89 22.5%
TV 36 9.1%
Radio 14 3.5%
Accessibility 2 0.5%
Broadband Story 2 0.5%

Phone complaints

252 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 63.8% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Unwanted Calls 181 71.8%
Availability (including rural call completion) 21 8.3%
Billing 16 6.3%
Equipment 12 4.8%
Privacy 11 4.4%
Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) 6 2.4%
Interference (including signal jammers) 2 0.8%
Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) 1 0.4%
Junk Faxes 1 0.4%
Rural Call Completion 1 0.4%

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 Availability (including rural call completion), Billing and Equipment.

Internet complaints

89 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 22.5% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Availability 43 48.3%
Interference 15 16.9%
Billing 13 14.6%
Speed 12 13.5%
Equipment 3 3.4%
Privacy 3 3.4%

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

TV complaints

36 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 9.1% of the total.

Issue Complaints Share
Billing 13 36.1%
Availability 10 27.8%
Loud Commercials 8 22.2%
Indecency 4 11.1%
Equipment 1 2.8%

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

Page last updated: 12 September 2021 with FCC complaints data from 11 September 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.