FCC reports increased cable, satellite customer complaints

Complaints to the FCC from cable and satellite subscribers increased by 9 percent during the fourth quarter, the commission reported Monday.

Click here for the FCC's summary of quarterly complaints about cable and satellite services.

There were 1,724 complaints about cable and satellite services during the fourth quarter, up from 1,581 reported during the third quarter of 2010, the FCC said. Complaints tied to billing and rates were the most common reason subscribers contacted the FCC.

Other issues that generated FCC complaints and inquiries from cable and satellite customers involved marketing and advertising, the transition to digital TV, over-the-air reception devices, video programming, matters related to the Satellite Home Viewer Act, and quality of service issues.

There was some good news for cable and satellite providers in the report. The FCC said that the total number of inquiries it received about cable and satellite decreased by 26 percent during the fourth quarter to 1,911.

The FCC tracks both inquiries and complaints from cable and satellite subscribers. It defines a consumer inquiry as "correspondence or communications" related to a matter under its jurisdiction, while a consumer complaint is defined as a fax, email, or phone call received from a consumer that identifies a particular entity under its jurisdiction, alleges harm or injury, and seeks relief.  

For more:
- see FCC's quarterly report on consumer inquiries and complaints (PDF)

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