FCC Consumer Complaints – 1 October 2021
Introduction
On Friday, 1 October 2021, 810 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this was lower than the 993 complaints recorded the day before. The complaints came from 50 states and territories, with California recording the largest share of reports at 144 complaints. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 451 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 810
- States & territories reporting
- 50
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (451)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (144)
Where the complaints came from
Across 534 cities in 50 states and territories, a total of 810 complaints were recorded on 1 October 2021. Activity was spread across states and territories, with no single location accounting for a substantial share of complaints. 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 144 | 17.8% |
| Florida | 71 | 8.8% |
| Texas | 71 | 8.8% |
| New York | 49 | 6.0% |
| Ohio | 35 | 4.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 31 | 3.8% |
| North Carolina | 28 | 3.5% |
| Georgia | 22 | 2.7% |
| Illinois | 22 | 2.7% |
| New Jersey | 22 | 2.7% |
| Other states and territories | 313 | 38.6% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date were spread across 7 complaint categories. Phone was the most reported category, with 611 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 611 | 75.4% |
| Internet | 118 | 14.6% |
| TV | 68 | 8.4% |
| Radio | 8 | 1.0% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.2% |
| Broadband Story | 2 | 0.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
611 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 451 | 73.8% |
| Billing | 55 | 9.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 34 | 5.6% |
| Equipment | 30 | 4.9% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 14 | 2.3% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 1.1% |
| Privacy | 7 | 1.1% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 6 | 1.0% |
| Junk Faxes | 6 | 1.0% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 1 | 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.
Internet complaints
118 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 14.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 47 | 39.8% |
| Billing | 39 | 33.1% |
| Speed | 11 | 9.3% |
| Interference | 8 | 6.8% |
| Equipment | 7 | 5.9% |
| Privacy | 6 | 5.1% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
68 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 8.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 32 | 47.1% |
| Availability | 19 | 27.9% |
| Loud Commercials | 9 | 13.2% |
| Equipment | 4 | 5.9% |
| Indecency | 3 | 4.4% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.5% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Billing and Availability, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
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.