Narrative:

Arriving phx from sfo, we encountered interference from el monte tower on phx ATIS 121.2. This required listening to ATIS many times to get the complete information, occupying the PNF well into the descent. This increased cockpit workload, and removed the second pt communications loop during the time our initial descent clearance was received and associated modifications to the altitude restrs were made in the FMC. The interference started at the blh 276 degree radial, 27 NM at FL410, XA10Z. We reported this to ZLA on 134.47. Our company reports that this is a continuing problem, and distributed a notice asking us to report such interference to ATC (according to the notice, this reporting was approved by ZLA). In this instance, the ZLA frequency was not busy, so it did not present a problem for them to accept the report. If they had been busy, I wouldn't even have asked the controller if he had time to take the report. Since this has apparently been going on for some time, I'm concerned that action may not have been initiated to address this problem, perhaps because ATC receives few complaints. I recommended that the FAA change frequencys for either phx ATIS or el monte tower. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter advised no feedback from company has been received at this point. Callback conversation with western pacific frequency management specialist revealed the following information: he is aware of the problem. Specialist has requested policy review from FAA headquarters on this subject, asking for an exemption for phx to provide for greater ATIS frequency coverage, or to reduce emt local controller frequency strength. Normally, unencumbered and clear ATIS frequency reception range is established up to 45 mi from sending station. Reporter has been advised of findings.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APPROX 120 MI W OF PHX IN DSCNT, B757 FLC ENCOUNTERS ATIS FREQ INTERFERENCE FROM EMT TWR.

Narrative: ARRIVING PHX FROM SFO, WE ENCOUNTERED INTERFERENCE FROM EL MONTE TWR ON PHX ATIS 121.2. THIS REQUIRED LISTENING TO ATIS MANY TIMES TO GET THE COMPLETE INFO, OCCUPYING THE PNF WELL INTO THE DSCNT. THIS INCREASED COCKPIT WORKLOAD, AND REMOVED THE SECOND PT COMS LOOP DURING THE TIME OUR INITIAL DSCNT CLRNC WAS RECEIVED AND ASSOCIATED MODIFICATIONS TO THE ALT RESTRS WERE MADE IN THE FMC. THE INTERFERENCE STARTED AT THE BLH 276 DEG RADIAL, 27 NM AT FL410, XA10Z. WE RPTED THIS TO ZLA ON 134.47. OUR COMPANY RPTS THAT THIS IS A CONTINUING PROB, AND DISTRIBUTED A NOTICE ASKING US TO RPT SUCH INTERFERENCE TO ATC (ACCORDING TO THE NOTICE, THIS RPTING WAS APPROVED BY ZLA). IN THIS INSTANCE, THE ZLA FREQ WAS NOT BUSY, SO IT DID NOT PRESENT A PROB FOR THEM TO ACCEPT THE RPT. IF THEY HAD BEEN BUSY, I WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE ASKED THE CTLR IF HE HAD TIME TO TAKE THE RPT. SINCE THIS HAS APPARENTLY BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME, I'M CONCERNED THAT ACTION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INITIATED TO ADDRESS THIS PROB, PERHAPS BECAUSE ATC RECEIVES FEW COMPLAINTS. I RECOMMENDED THAT THE FAA CHANGE FREQS FOR EITHER PHX ATIS OR EL MONTE TWR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR ADVISED NO FEEDBACK FROM COMPANY HAS BEEN RECEIVED AT THIS POINT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH WESTERN PACIFIC FREQ MGMNT SPECIALIST REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: HE IS AWARE OF THE PROB. SPECIALIST HAS REQUESTED POLICY REVIEW FROM FAA HEADQUARTERS ON THIS SUBJECT, ASKING FOR AN EXEMPTION FOR PHX TO PROVIDE FOR GREATER ATIS FREQ COVERAGE, OR TO REDUCE EMT LCL CTLR FREQ STRENGTH. NORMALLY, UNENCUMBERED AND CLR ATIS FREQ RECEPTION RANGE IS ESTABLISHED UP TO 45 MI FROM SENDING STATION. RPTR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF FINDINGS.

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.