When Trump’s FCC decided to “streamline” complaints by adding a fee in 2018, it was widely reported and condemned:

• https://futurism.com/the-byte/isp-problem-fcc
• https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/fcc-wants-to-charge-225-fee-for-filing-complaints/
• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fcc-wants-charge-225-look-consumer-complaint-n890881
• https://www.extremetech.com/internet/273212-fcc-may-gut-informal-complaint-process-force-consumers-to-pay-225-fee
• https://gizmodo.com/fcc-ditches-plan-to-screw-with-its-complaint-process-bu-1827538871
• https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/07/ajit-pais-fcc-wants-to-stop-reviewing-your-complaints-unless-you-pay-225/
• https://uk.pcmag.com/software/116326/fcc-adopts-controversial-rules-on-handling-consumer-complaints

In 2026, I have put this 2018 anti-consumer horse shit to the test. Sent the FCC informal complaint, which costs nothing. It was not over some subjective poor service. A telecom bluntly and violated the law in a way that’s manifestly indefensible. They even admitted to it. Would be a trivial win -- if only someone in the FCC would lift a finger.

Of course if the FCC were to act on a gratis informal complaint, there would be no incentive for me to pay them $225 to take a formal complaint. So of course they ignore it. Not even so much as an acknowledgement.

This would not happen in Europe, because of human rights

Europeans have a right to good administration. If the US had the same, it would then be illegal for the FCC to simply ignore complaints. In the very least the FCC would have to acknowledge your complaint, read it, make a decision, and if the decision is adverse they would have to provide rationale.