FCC Consumer Complaints – 19 March 2023
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 366 consumer complaints on Sunday, 19 March 2023 relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 480 complaints recorded the previous day. Submissions were made from 46 states and territories, with California accounting for the highest number of complaints at 46. Billing recorded a slightly higher number of complaints than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 366
- States & territories reporting
- 46
- Most common issue
- Billing (88)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (46)
Where the complaints came from
On 19 March 2023, the 366 complaints recorded by the Federal Communications Commission were reported from 300 cities across 46 states and territories. Overall, complaint activity was broadly distributed, with no single state or territory representing a significant proportion of the total. 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 | 46 | 12.6% |
| Illinois | 23 | 6.3% |
| Georgia | 21 | 5.7% |
| Texas | 20 | 5.5% |
| Florida | 19 | 5.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 19 | 5.2% |
| New York | 16 | 4.4% |
| Arizona | 15 | 4.1% |
| Maryland | 12 | 3.3% |
| Colorado | 11 | 3.0% |
| Other states and territories | 164 | 44.8% |
Location highlight
Complaints in California were reported across 41 cities, the widest spread observed on this date.
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 5 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 179 complaints. This was followed by Internet, which accounted for 106 complaints.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 179 | 48.9% |
| Internet | 106 | 29.0% |
| TV | 67 | 18.3% |
| Radio | 10 | 2.7% |
| Emergency | 4 | 1.1% |
Phone complaints
179 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 48.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 65 | 36.3% |
| Billing | 31 | 17.3% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 23 | 12.8% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 22 | 12.3% |
| Equipment | 14 | 7.8% |
| Privacy | 13 | 7.3% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 5 | 2.8% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 3 | 1.7% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 3 | 1.7% |
Unwanted calls again accounted for the largest share of complaints in this category. These reports are examined in more detail in the section below. A broad mix of issues was reported in this category, with Billing, Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) and Availability (including rural call completion) among the most common.
Internet complaints
106 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 29.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 37 | 34.9% |
| Billing | 30 | 28.3% |
| Interference | 17 | 16.0% |
| Speed | 10 | 9.4% |
| Privacy | 7 | 6.6% |
| Equipment | 5 | 4.7% |
The largest share of complaints in this category related to Availability and Billing, with fewer reports falling into other issue types.
TV complaints
67 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 18.3% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 27 | 40.3% |
| Availability | 15 | 22.4% |
| Loud Commercials | 10 | 14.9% |
| Indecency | 8 | 11.9% |
| Interference | 4 | 6.0% |
| Equipment | 2 | 3.0% |
| Privacy | 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.