FCC Consumer Complaints – 20 October 2023
Introduction
On Friday, 20 October 2023, 773 consumer complaints relating to telecommunications services were recorded in the Federal Communications Commission system, complaint volume fell from 881 complaints the previous day. The complaints came from 51 states and territories, with California reporting a modestly higher count than the other locations. Complaints were most commonly associated with Unwanted Calls, accounting for 347 complaints.
Key statistics
- Total complaints
- 773
- States & territories reporting
- 51
- Most common issue
- Unwanted Calls (347)
- Most reported state/territory
- California (109)
Where the complaints came from
Reports recorded on 20 October 2023 show 773 complaints originating from 547 cities across 51 states and territories. Complaint activity was fairly evenly distributed, with no single state or territory accounting for a large share of reports. A similar pattern is observed at the city level, with complaints spread across locations rather than concentrated in a single area.
The table below summarises the number of complaints reported in each state and territory on this date, ordered by total reports.
| State/Territory | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 109 | 14.1% |
| New York | 70 | 9.1% |
| Texas | 59 | 7.6% |
| Florida | 40 | 5.2% |
| Ohio | 38 | 4.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 29 | 3.8% |
| Washington | 29 | 3.8% |
| Colorado | 25 | 3.2% |
| Tennessee | 25 | 3.2% |
| Illinois | 24 | 3.1% |
| Other states and territories | 325 | 42.0% |
What the complaints were about
The complaints recorded on this date fell into 7 different complaint categories. Phone accounted for the largest share, with 531 complaints. Complaint activity was strongly concentrated in this category, with other categories contributing comparatively fewer reports.
| Complaint category | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | 531 | 68.7% |
| Internet | 162 | 21.0% |
| TV | 48 | 6.2% |
| Radio | 22 | 2.8% |
| Accessibility | 6 | 0.8% |
| Emergency | 3 | 0.4% |
| Request for Dispute Assistance | 1 | 0.1% |
Phone complaints
531 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 68.7% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted Calls | 347 | 65.3% |
| Billing | 69 | 13.0% |
| Equipment | 42 | 7.9% |
| Availability (including rural call completion) | 36 | 6.8% |
| Privacy | 14 | 2.6% |
| Number Portability (keeping your number if you change providers) | 13 | 2.4% |
| Cramming (unauthorized charges on your phone bill) | 5 | 0.9% |
| Interference (including signal jammers) | 4 | 0.8% |
| Rural Call Completion | 1 | 0.2% |
As is typical for this category, unwanted calls accounted for the largest share of complaints. A more detailed analysis of these reports is provided in the section below. Complaints in this category covered a range of issues, including Billing, Equipment and Availability (including rural call completion).
Internet complaints
162 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 21.0% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 69 | 42.6% |
| Availability | 47 | 29.0% |
| Speed | 14 | 8.6% |
| Equipment | 12 | 7.4% |
| Interference | 10 | 6.2% |
| Privacy | 10 | 6.2% |
Billing and Availability accounted for the majority of complaints in this category, with other issues reported less frequently.
TV complaints
48 complaints were recorded in this category, representing 6.2% of the total.
| Issue | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | 17 | 35.4% |
| Availability | 15 | 31.3% |
| Indecency | 5 | 10.4% |
| Loud Commercials | 4 | 8.3% |
| Equipment | 3 | 6.3% |
| Privacy | 2 | 4.2% |
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.