Narrative:

I am working high sector (FL240-FL330). A WW24 checks on frequency climbing to FL230, requesting FL390. I issue climb to FL260 and coordinate with adjacent sector a climb to FL310 due to traffic. I issue climb to FL310 to WW24, but did not get a readback. I issue two more clearances to FL310 without a readback. I then ask WW24 to identify and receive an identify. I reissue clearance to FL310 and switch the WW24 to next sector. I called next to verify the altitude that the WW24 is climbing to since I did not get the readback. This is a continuous occurring problem with this frequency (124.37). Not knowing what the pilot readback as an assigned altitude presents a safety problem. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: controller advised this high altitude sector has two dominant functions: J46 overflt traffic, FL310-FL330, from the cincinnati/detroit area sebnd into florida, and the very heavily utilized macey STAR with traffic rted from over volunteer VORTAC, altitudes FL240 thru FL330. The reporter advised that during the previous six months, 124.37 frequency problems seemed to be at altitudes between FL310 to FL330, but during the last couple of weeks, 124.37 has had problem's from FL240 through FL330. Mntnc has worked on the problem without improvement. The reporter advised that controllers have restricted use to buec-thought to be site colocated-because the primary frequency has been unusable. Major concerns extend to not hearing initial call-ups and pilots not acknowledging clrncs. The controller advised that this recurring problem has been detailed in other FAA grievance formats.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZTL CTLR CONCERNED WITH HIGH ALT SECTOR FREQ (124.37) COVERAGE.

Narrative: I AM WORKING HIGH SECTOR (FL240-FL330). A WW24 CHECKS ON FREQ CLBING TO FL230, REQUESTING FL390. I ISSUE CLB TO FL260 AND COORDINATE WITH ADJACENT SECTOR A CLB TO FL310 DUE TO TFC. I ISSUE CLB TO FL310 TO WW24, BUT DID NOT GET A READBACK. I ISSUE TWO MORE CLEARANCES TO FL310 WITHOUT A READBACK. I THEN ASK WW24 TO IDENT AND RECEIVE AN IDENT. I REISSUE CLEARANCE TO FL310 AND SWITCH THE WW24 TO NEXT SECTOR. I CALLED NEXT TO VERIFY THE ALTITUDE THAT THE WW24 IS CLBING TO SINCE I DID NOT GET THE READBACK. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS OCCURRING PROB WITH THIS FREQ (124.37). NOT KNOWING WHAT THE PILOT READBACK AS AN ASSIGNED ALTITUDE PRESENTS A SAFETY PROB. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: CTLR ADVISED THIS HIGH ALT SECTOR HAS TWO DOMINANT FUNCTIONS: J46 OVERFLT TFC, FL310-FL330, FROM THE CINCINNATI/DETROIT AREA SEBND INTO FLORIDA, AND THE VERY HEAVILY UTILIZED MACEY STAR WITH TFC RTED FROM OVER VOLUNTEER VORTAC, ALTS FL240 THRU FL330. THE RPTR ADVISED THAT DURING THE PREVIOUS SIX MONTHS, 124.37 FREQ PROBS SEEMED TO BE AT ALTS BTWN FL310 TO FL330, BUT DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, 124.37 HAS HAD PROB'S FROM FL240 THROUGH FL330. MNTNC HAS WORKED ON THE PROB WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT. THE RPTR ADVISED THAT CTLRS HAVE RESTRICTED USE TO BUEC-THOUGHT TO BE SITE COLOCATED-BECAUSE THE PRIMARY FREQ HAS BEEN UNUSABLE. MAJOR CONCERNS EXTEND TO NOT HEARING INITIAL CALL-UPS AND PLTS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING CLRNCS. THE CTLR ADVISED THAT THIS RECURRING PROB HAS BEEN DETAILED IN OTHER FAA GRIEVANCE FORMATS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.