FCC Consumer Complaints – 5 November 2021
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 757 consumer complaints on Friday, 5 November 2021 relating to telecommunications services, this represented a decline from the 839 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 49 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. The most common issue reported was Unwanted Calls, accounting for 411 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 757
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (411)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (89)
Where the complaints came from
On 5 November 2021, the 757 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 531 cities across 49 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location 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 | 89 | 11.8% |
| Texas | 66 | 8.7% |
| Florida | 56 | 7.4% |
| New York | 46 | 6.1% |
| Ohio | 29 | 3.8% |
| Colorado | 28 | 3.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 28 | 3.7% |
| Georgia | 25 | 3.3% |
| Massachusetts | 25 | 3.3% |
| Michigan | 24 | 3.2% |
| Other states and territories | 338 | 44.6% |
What the complaints were about
A total of 6 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 551 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 551 | 72.8% |
| Internet | 126 | 16.6% |
| TV | 52 | 6.9% |
| Radio | 18 | 2.4% |
| Accessibility | 9 | 1.2% |
| Emergency | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
551 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 72.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 411 | 74.6% |
| Billing | 48 | 8.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 36 | 6.5% |
| Equipment | 25 | 4.5% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 10 | 1.8% |
| Junk Faxes | 7 | 1.3% |
| Privacy | 7 | 1.3% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 1 | 0.2% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 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. The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment.
Internet complaints
126 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 16.6% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 50 | 39.7% |
| Billing | 43 | 34.1% |
| Speed | 14 | 11.1% |
| Equipment | 9 | 7.1% |
| Privacy | 6 | 4.8% |
| Interference | 4 | 3.2% |
Availability and Billing were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
TV complaints
52 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 18 | 34.6% |
| Availability | 15 | 28.8% |
| Loud Commercials | 11 | 21.2% |
| Indecency | 5 | 9.6% |
| Equipment | 3 | 5.8% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
Unwanted calls
There were 411 complaints relating to unwanted calls on this date, representing 54.3% of all complaints. Caller ID and business contact number details are listed below where there is enough concentration to make the data meaningful.
Most reported caller ID numbers
| Telephone number | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| (303) 557-4857 | 7 | 1.7% |
| (866) 364-6301 | 4 | 1.0% |
| (605) 202-7288 | 3 | 0.7% |
| (909) 366-2798 | 3 | 0.7% |
| (202) 298-1954 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (202) 816-6264 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (202) 967-1820 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (203) 846-7836 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (205) 749-8221 | 1 | 0.2% |
| (206) 649-2354 | 1 | 0.2% |
Key patterns
- None accounted for the largest share of unwanted call complaints by service type.
- Prerecorded Voice was reported slightly more often than other call types.
- Reports were spread across many different business contact numbers, with no single number dominating.
- (303) 557-4857 was reported slightly more often than other caller ID numbers.
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.