Narrative:

Sector 10 (lgc) was on frequency 127.52; a backup and/or workload frequency from sector 13; because my sector's backup/workload frequency was being used by sector 9. I was told at the beginning of my shift that sector 9 and sector 10's main frequencys had been hit by lightning and are OTS. On jul/wed/06 around XA40; 127.52 would crackle and fail for 20-30 seconds; I informed the supervisor/controller in charge. It did this several times over a 20-30 min period and then around XB00 or XB10 127.52 failed and did not return. I had several aircraft that were on that frequency and could not communicate with them; I could not go to standby or main and had no other backup frequency available. This could have caused an extremely unsafe and uncontrolled situation had I been busier. The supervisor/controller in charge notified airways facilities and after about 5 mins or so they called back and said to use 125.57 (sector 10's normal frequency). We should not have so many frequencys out that numerous sectors are on backup frequencys; and when a backup frequency fails how can the one that was out suddenly return? Luckily; most of the aircraft I had been working; I had already separated and switched the aircraft to another frequency.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZTL CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING NUMEROUS FREQ FAILURES; LIMITING THE NUMBER BACKUP FREQS AVAILABLE.

Narrative: SECTOR 10 (LGC) WAS ON FREQ 127.52; A BACKUP AND/OR WORKLOAD FREQ FROM SECTOR 13; BECAUSE MY SECTOR'S BACKUP/WORKLOAD FREQ WAS BEING USED BY SECTOR 9. I WAS TOLD AT THE BEGINNING OF MY SHIFT THAT SECTOR 9 AND SECTOR 10'S MAIN FREQS HAD BEEN HIT BY LIGHTNING AND ARE OTS. ON JUL/WED/06 AROUND XA40; 127.52 WOULD CRACKLE AND FAIL FOR 20-30 SECONDS; I INFORMED THE SUPVR/CIC. IT DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES OVER A 20-30 MIN PERIOD AND THEN AROUND XB00 OR XB10 127.52 FAILED AND DID NOT RETURN. I HAD SEVERAL ACFT THAT WERE ON THAT FREQ AND COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THEM; I COULD NOT GO TO STANDBY OR MAIN AND HAD NO OTHER BACKUP FREQ AVAILABLE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND UNCTLED SITUATION HAD I BEEN BUSIER. THE SUPVR/CIC NOTIFIED AIRWAYS FACILITIES AND AFTER ABOUT 5 MINS OR SO THEY CALLED BACK AND SAID TO USE 125.57 (SECTOR 10'S NORMAL FREQ). WE SHOULD NOT HAVE SO MANY FREQS OUT THAT NUMEROUS SECTORS ARE ON BACKUP FREQS; AND WHEN A BACKUP FREQ FAILS HOW CAN THE ONE THAT WAS OUT SUDDENLY RETURN? LUCKILY; MOST OF THE ACFT I HAD BEEN WORKING; I HAD ALREADY SEPARATED AND SWITCHED THE ACFT TO ANOTHER FREQ.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.