The Federal Communications Commission gives consumers the opportunity to file informal complaints about problems with the communications services that the FCC regulates. Complaints can be filed through the FCC's Consumer Complaint Center, which educates consumers about communications issues and guides them through the complaint process.

Other options for filing a complaint with the FCC include:

Phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322); TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322); ASL: 1-844-432-2275

Mail (please include your name, address, contact information and as much detail about your complaint as possible):

Federal Communications Commission

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division

445 12th Street, S.W.

Washington, DC 20554

The informal complaint process requires no complicated legal procedures, has no filing charge, and does not require the complaining party to appear before the FCC.

Complaints about telecommunications billing or service issuses are processed by the FCC's Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division and will be served on your provider, which has 30 days to respond directly to you, copying the FCC on its response.

Complaints may be shared among FCC bureaus and offices for further review and possible investigation. By filing a consumer complaint with the FCC, you contribute to federal enforcement and consumer protection efforts on a national scale and help us identify trends and track the issues that matter most.

The FCC does not resolve all individual complaints.

Complaints about issues not covered by the FCC

While the FCC can help consumers with many types of complaints, there are many issues – such as consumer fraud or cable billing – which are be best addressed by local, state or federal agencies or authorities that have jurisdiction over these issues.

Filing complaints with the FTC

For charges on your telephone bill for non-telephone services, file your complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.

Complaints about local telephone or cable service

If you have a problem with your local telephone service, including directory assistance, or telephone service within your state, contact your state public service commission. Contact information for your state public service commission can be found at www.naruc.org/commissions.cfm or in the blue pages or government section of your local telephone directory.

For problems with rates for basic cable television service or cable television service quality that you can't resolve directly with the company, contact your Local Franchising Authority (LFA). Contact information for your LFA can be found on your cable service bill or in your local telephone directory.

Also, your state or local Better Business Bureau, consumer protection agency or state Attorney General's Office may be able to help. Again, check for listings in your local telephone directory.

Printable Version

Filing an Informal Complaint (pdf)