FCC Consumer Complaints – 20 March 2023
Introduction
A total of 880 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded by the Federal Communications Commission on 20 March 2023, this represented an increase from the 366 complaints recorded the previous day. Reports were received from 49 states and territories, with California recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls was reported slightly more frequently than other issues.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 880
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (300)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (131)
Where the complaints came from
A total of 880 complaints were recorded on 20 March 2023, with reports originating from 614 cities in 49 states and territories. Complaints were relatively evenly spread across states and territories, with no individual location contributing a dominant share. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
The distribution of complaints by state and territory is shown below, with locations ranked by the number of reports recorded.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 131 | 14.9% |
| Texas | 67 | 7.6% |
| New York | 50 | 5.7% |
| Florida | 49 | 5.6% |
| Illinois | 47 | 5.3% |
| Virginia | 39 | 4.4% |
| Georgia | 37 | 4.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 36 | 4.1% |
| Ohio | 28 | 3.2% |
| North Carolina | 25 | 2.8% |
| Other states and territories | 371 | 42.2% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 562 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 562 | 63.9% |
| Internet | 182 | 20.7% |
| TV | 105 | 11.9% |
| Radio | 22 | 2.5% |
| Emergency | 5 | 0.6% |
| Accessibility | 3 | 0.3% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
562 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 63.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 300 | 53.4% |
| Billing | 91 | 16.2% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 64 | 11.4% |
| Equipment | 43 | 7.7% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 27 | 4.8% |
| Privacy | 12 | 2.1% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 9 | 1.6% |
| Junk Faxes | 8 | 1.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 7 | 1.2% |
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
182 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 20.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 62 | 34.1% |
| Availability | 53 | 29.1% |
| Privacy | 31 | 17.0% |
| Interference | 17 | 9.3% |
| Speed | 11 | 6.0% |
| Equipment | 8 | 4.4% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
105 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 11.9% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 66 | 62.9% |
| Availability | 22 | 21.0% |
| Equipment | 7 | 6.7% |
| Indecency | 6 | 5.7% |
| Loud Commercials | 3 | 2.9% |
| Interference | 1 | 1.0% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
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.