FCC Consumer Complaints – 18 August 2023
Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission recorded 788 consumer complaints on 18 August 2023 relating to telecommunications services, this was lower than the 1093 complaints recorded the day before. Reports were received from 49 states and territories, with Texas recording slightly more complaints than other locations. Unwanted Calls was the most frequently reported issue, with 312 complaints recorded.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 788
- States & territories reporting
- 49
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (312)
- Most reported state/territory
- Texas (97)
Where the complaints came from
Across 538 cities in 49 states and territories, a total of 788 complaints were recorded on 18 August 2023. The distribution of complaints was relatively even, with no single state or territory 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 97 | 12.3% |
| California | 87 | 11.0% |
| Florida | 55 | 7.0% |
| New York | 43 | 5.5% |
| Virginia | 28 | 3.6% |
| Arizona | 27 | 3.4% |
| Ohio | 27 | 3.4% |
| Michigan | 25 | 3.2% |
| Colorado | 24 | 3.0% |
| Illinois | 21 | 2.7% |
| Other states and territories | 354 | 44.9% |
Location highlight
Complaints in California were reported across 61 cities, the widest spread observed on this date.
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 537 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 537 | 68.1% |
| Internet | 189 | 24.0% |
| TV | 40 | 5.1% |
| Emergency | 9 | 1.1% |
| Radio | 9 | 1.1% |
| Accessibility | 2 | 0.3% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 2 | 0.3% |
Phone complaints
537 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 68.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 312 | 58.1% |
| Billing | 63 | 11.7% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 40 | 7.4% |
| Equipment | 40 | 7.4% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 16 | 3.0% |
| Privacy | 12 | 2.2% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 9 | 1.7% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 4 | 0.7% |
| Junk Faxes | 4 | 0.7% |
| Slamming (change of your carrier without permission) | 2 | 0.4% |
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
189 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 24.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 78 | 41.3% |
| Availability | 68 | 36.0% |
| Speed | 14 | 7.4% |
| Interference | 12 | 6.3% |
| Equipment | 10 | 5.3% |
| Privacy | 7 | 3.7% |
Billing and Availability were the main issues reported in this category, while other issues were less common.
TV complaints
40 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 5.1% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 12 | 30.0% |
| Billing | 11 | 27.5% |
| Loud Commercials | 10 | 25.0% |
| Equipment | 4 | 10.0% |
| Indecency | 3 | 7.5% |
The remaining complaints in this category were spread across several issues, including Availability, Billing and Loud Commercials.
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.