FCC Consumer Complaints – 5 January 2023
Introduction
On Thursday, 5 January 2023, 928 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, this represented an increase from the 817 complaints recorded the previous day. Complaints were reported across 52 states and territories, with California slightly ahead of the other locations. Complaints relating to Unwanted Calls were marginally higher than for other issue types.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 928
- States & territories reporting
- 52
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (328)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (111)
Where the complaints came from
The 928 complaints recorded on 5 January 2023 were submitted from 640 cities across 52 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. 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 | 111 | 12.0% |
| New York | 98 | 10.6% |
| Florida | 67 | 7.2% |
| Texas | 63 | 6.8% |
| Georgia | 39 | 4.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 37 | 4.0% |
| Illinois | 34 | 3.7% |
| Virginia | 32 | 3.4% |
| Ohio | 30 | 3.2% |
| North Carolina | 25 | 2.7% |
| Other states and territories | 388 | 41.8% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. The largest number of complaints fell within Phone, which accounted for 592 reports. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 592 | 63.8% |
| Internet | 235 | 25.3% |
| TV | 63 | 6.8% |
| Radio | 24 | 2.6% |
| Emergency | 5 | 0.5% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 5 | 0.5% |
| Accessibility | 4 | 0.4% |
Phone complaints
592 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 63.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 328 | 55.4% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 81 | 13.7% |
| Billing | 78 | 13.2% |
| Equipment | 38 | 6.4% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 25 | 4.2% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 13 | 2.2% |
| Privacy | 10 | 1.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 9 | 1.5% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 4 | 0.7% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 4 | 0.7% |
| 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 Availability (including rural call completion), Billing and Equipment among the most common.
Internet complaints
235 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 25.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 91 | 38.7% |
| Billing | 82 | 34.9% |
| Speed | 24 | 10.2% |
| Equipment | 15 | 6.4% |
| Interference | 13 | 5.5% |
| Privacy | 10 | 4.3% |
Availability and Billing were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
TV complaints
63 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.8% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 31 | 49.2% |
| Availability | 12 | 19.0% |
| Indecency | 8 | 12.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 7 | 11.1% |
| Equipment | 3 | 4.8% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.6% |
| Privacy | 1 | 1.6% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
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.