FCC Consumer Complaints – 14 December 2021
Introduction
On Tuesday, 14 December 2021, 854 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, complaint volume increased from 719 complaints the previous day. The complaints came from 48 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 466 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 854
- States & territories reporting
- 48
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (466)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (96)
Where the complaints came from
The 854 complaints recorded on 14 December 2021 were submitted from 543 cities across 48 states and territories. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. Despite the overall distribution, a notable concentration at the city level was observed in Alabama, where Foley accounted for 31 of the 42 complaints recorded in the state.
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 | 96 | 11.2% |
| Texas | 71 | 8.3% |
| Florida | 61 | 7.1% |
| New York | 53 | 6.2% |
| Alabama | 42 | 4.9% |
| Michigan | 31 | 3.6% |
| Washington | 31 | 3.6% |
| Georgia | 26 | 3.0% |
| North Carolina | 26 | 3.0% |
| Ohio | 26 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 391 | 45.8% |
Location highlight
Complaints in Alabama were heavily concentrated in Foley, which accounted for the majority of reports within the state.
What the complaints were about
A total of 7 complaint categories were represented in the complaints recorded on this date. Phone was the most reported category, with 645 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 645 | 75.5% |
| Internet | 128 | 15.0% |
| TV | 55 | 6.4% |
| Radio | 17 | 2.0% |
| Broadband Story | 5 | 0.6% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.4% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
645 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 75.5% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 466 | 72.2% |
| Billing | 58 | 9.0% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 31 | 4.8% |
| Equipment | 30 | 4.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 19 | 2.9% |
| Junk Faxes | 12 | 1.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 11 | 1.7% |
| Privacy | 7 | 1.1% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 0.8% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 4 | 0.6% |
| 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. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Availability (including rural call completion) and Equipment among the most common.
Internet complaints
128 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 15.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 47 | 36.7% |
| Billing | 43 | 33.6% |
| Interference | 12 | 9.4% |
| Speed | 10 | 7.8% |
| Equipment | 8 | 6.3% |
| Privacy | 8 | 6.3% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
55 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.4% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 25 | 45.5% |
| Availability | 11 | 20.0% |
| Indecency | 10 | 18.2% |
| Loud Commercials | 5 | 9.1% |
| Equipment | 3 | 5.5% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.8% |
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.