What are three of the six types of complaints you can make to the FCC?

Asked by: Ara Veum  |  Last update: February 12, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (1 votes)

Based on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Consumer Complaint Center, consumers can file informal complaints regarding six main categories of communications services. Three of these types of complaints include:

What can you complain to the FCC about?

Phone Issues

Billing, equipment, coverage, number porting, unlocking, incarcerated people's communications services, and more.

What types of complaints are there?

Here are some of the most common types of complaints.

  • Long wait times. ...
  • Automated phone loops. ...
  • Unsupportive agents. ...
  • Inconsistent information. ...
  • Inconvenient customer service hours. ...
  • Lack of self-service options. ...
  • Lack of omnichannel support. ...
  • Poor product or service quality.

What types of issues does the FCC handle?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent federal agency established by the Communications Act of 1934 (1934 Act, or "Communications Act"). The agency is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.

What kind of complaints does the FTC handle?

You can report a wide range of consumer fraud, scams, identity theft, and unfair or deceptive business practices to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), such as fake government impersonations, credit/debt issues, online shopping problems, health/weight loss scams, and issues with mobile/phone services, even if you didn't lose money, by visiting ReportFraud.ftc.gov to contribute to investigations by over 2,800 law enforcement agencies. 

How Do I File A Complaint With The FCC? - Making Politics Simple

16 related questions found

What are the four types of complaints?

There are different ways to categorize complaints, but a common framework divides them into Productive (solution-focused), Venting (stress release), Chronic (habitual negativity), and Malicious (intentionally harmful). Alternatively, common customer complaint areas are Product/Service Quality, Customer Service, Billing/Pricing, and Delivery Issues, while employee complaints often center on pay, hostile environments, harassment, or discrimination, notes PaysmartSC and Zendesk. 

What's the most common complaint?

What are the most common types of complaints consumers make? The most common types of complaints typically include product defects, service inefficiencies, pricing issues, and delivery problems.

Do FCC complaints work?

Yes, filing a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) can do something; it often leads to resolution (like refunds) or gets the provider to respond, and even if not resolved, it helps the FCC track issues, identify trends, and inform policy and enforcement actions against companies on a national scale. While the FCC doesn't resolve every individual dispute, especially for issues like robocalls or indecency, your complaint feeds into their larger oversight and can guide you to other agencies if needed. 

Which would the FCC most likely penalize for violating?

Among the options provided, the entity most likely to be penalized for violating FCC regulations is a TV station, as they are directly subject to FCC rules regarding broadcasting standards and content.

What are the four responsibilities of the FCC?

The FCC maintains jurisdiction over the areas of broadband access, fair competition, radio frequency use, media responsibility, public safety, and homeland security.

What are the three types of customer complaints?

3 types of customer complaints

  • Time-based complaints.
  • Company-based complaints.
  • Product/service-based complaints.

What are the six steps involved in the complaints process?

6 Steps to Deal with Customer Complaints

  • Create a clear client complaint policy.
  • Ask for and listen to your customer feedback.
  • Keep clear records and ask for documentation.
  • Provide swift, personalised engagement with customers.
  • Provide a clear solution to the customer complaint.
  • Follow up with customers.

What are the top 3 reasons for complaints?

The 3 biggest reasons why people complain

  • We want to avoid taking responsibility.
  • We think people care about our problems.
  • We forget that things could be worse.

Who investigates FCC violations?

OIG investigates allegations of fraud, waste and abuse occurring in FCC operations, including matters of possible wrongdoing and misconduct involving FCC employees and contractors.

Can the FCC resolve my issue?

The FCC cannot resolve all individual complaints, but we can provide information about your possible next steps. The collective data we receive from complaints helps us keep a pulse on what consumers are experiencing, may lead to investigations and serves as a deterrent to the companies we regulate.

How do I make an official complaint?

Put it in writing

It is helpful if you can put your complaint in writing. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, you could ask a friend, carer, family member or an organisation like Citizens Advice to help you. Write 'complaint' at the top of your letter or email, so there can be no doubt.

What types of violations to the FCC handle?

The FCC doesn't publish one single "violations list," but rather details various enforcement actions for issues like unlicensed radio/pirate broadcasting, interference, technical rule breaches, unwanted calls/texts, obscenity/indecency on broadcast media, and cable signal leakage. You can find recent orders, consent decrees, and summaries on the FCC Enforcement Actions page and Technical Rule Violations page. 

What are the three questions for things to be considered obscene?

For content to be ruled obscene, it must meet a three-pronged test established by the Supreme Court: It must appeal to an average person's prurient interest; depict or describe sexual conduct in a "patently offensive" way; and, taken as a whole, lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

What is the FCC rule 23 107?

Adopted FCC Rule concerning robocalls and robotexts (FCC 23-107) On 13 December 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a rule to combat unlawful robocalls and robotexts. Service providers will be required to block all texts from numbers identified by the FCC as sources of illegal texts.

What are the 7 rights of a consumer?

the right to safety; the right to be informed; the right to choose; and the right to be heard. The International Organisation of Consumer Unions has since added four more rights: the right to redress; the right to satisfaction of basic needs; the right to consumer education; and the right to a healthy environment.

What happens after you file a complaint with the FCC?

When you file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), especially for telecom issues, they forward it to the service provider (like your phone or internet company), who then has 30 days to respond to you and the FCC, with the FCC tracking these interactions for trends, though they generally don't resolve individual disputes but use data for broader enforcement, investigation, and policy making. 

How long should I wait for a response to a complaint?

A clear, substantive response within 14 days of receiving the complaint. For complex issues, businesses should acknowledge receipt within 3 working days and provide an estimated timeframe for resolution.

What are the 4 types of complaints?

There are different ways to categorize complaints, but a common framework divides them into Productive (solution-focused), Venting (stress release), Chronic (habitual negativity), and Malicious (intentionally harmful). Alternatively, common customer complaint areas are Product/Service Quality, Customer Service, Billing/Pricing, and Delivery Issues, while employee complaints often center on pay, hostile environments, harassment, or discrimination, notes PaysmartSC and Zendesk. 

What is the 10/5/3 rule in customer service?

In-person, it works like this: - 10 feet: Make eye contact and smile - 5 feet: Smile with your eyes and lips, and offer a friendly greeting - 3 feet: Verbally greet the customer warmly In a contact center, the 10-5-3 rule is a simple framework for prioritizing customer service: - 10 minutes to acknowledge the issue - 5 ...

How do you make a strong complaint?

Information To Include in Your Letter

  1. Give the basics.
  2. Tell your story.
  3. Explain how you want to resolve the problem.
  4. Describe your next steps.
  5. Send your complaint letter.
  6. [Your Mailing Address]
  7. [Your City, State, Zip Code]
  8. [Your email address]