How to File a Complaint with the FCC
Quick Answer
File FCC complaints for issues with phone companies, internet providers, robocalls, caller ID spoofing, and cable or satellite TV billing. Go to ConsumerComplaints.fcc.gov. The FCC contacts providers about complaints and uses them to identify enforcement priorities. Response times vary, simple billing disputes may resolve in weeks; broader issues feed into longer-term enforcement.
The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) regulates communications services in the United States: phone carriers, internet service providers, cable and satellite companies, and broadcasters. When these services fail consumers, the FCC is the right agency to contact.
What the FCC Handles
Phone service issues:
- Billing errors and unexpected charges
- Slamming (being switched to a new carrier without consent)
- Cramming (unauthorised third-party charges added to your phone bill)
- Service outages and coverage problems
Robocalls and unwanted calls:
- Illegal robocalls
- Calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Registry
- Caller ID spoofing
- Unwanted text messages from short codes
Internet service issues:
- Billing disputes with internet providers
- Service not matching advertised speeds
- Data cap disputes
- Contract term disputes
Cable and satellite TV:
- Billing errors
- Service quality issues
- Equipment charges
How to File a Complaint
Online (fastest): ConsumerComplaints.fcc.gov
Phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322), TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC
Mail: Federal Communications Commission, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554
What to include:
- Your name and contact information
- The company name and account number
- A clear description of the issue
- Dates of relevant events
- What steps you have already taken to resolve it
- Supporting documents (bills, contracts, screenshots) if available
What Happens After You File
What to expect: The FCC logs your complaint and may forward it to the company involved. The company is given an opportunity to respond. For billing and service disputes, companies often resolve the issue once a formal FCC complaint is filed, the contact from the FCC's Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division carries more weight than a standard customer service call.
For robocall and spoofing complaints, your report contributes to enforcement data rather than triggering a direct company response. The FCC uses complaint volumes to identify carriers and operators passing illegal traffic, which informs enforcement action.
Response timelines: billing and service complaints typically see company responses within a few weeks. Enforcement investigations take longer and you may not receive individual case updates.
For Do Not Call Registry Violations
If you are on the Do Not Call Registry and received an unwanted telemarketing call, report it at the FTC's site (donotcall.gov or ReportFraud.ftc.gov) in addition to the FCC. The FTC maintains the registry and takes enforcement action against violators.