Narrative:

I was working the pullman (pmm) high altitude sector in the northeast area at ZAU. Air carrier X was an overflt from dtw to msn. Air carrier X blocked my frequency (126.12) with a stuck microphone. It was at the tail end of the inbound rush to ord. I was talking to 10 or more aircraft with 15 or more data blocks on my scope (I am not sure of the exact numbers; I was very busy). I immediately informed my supervisor of the situation. I asked for a backup frequency to use. Unfortunately; the only backup frequency (128.65) had been released to another area. We had no other frequency to use. After several mins had passed; I gave up on the supervisor making a decision. I asked the supervisor to close a low altitude sector and give me that sector's frequency (128.5). Unfortunately; I was unable to select the frequency at my sector. The supervisor did not know how to move the frequency to make it available to me. Finally; someone moved 128.5 so that it was available to be selected at my sector using vscs. I then had another sector send an aircraft to 126.12 and broadcast in the blind for all aircraft to change to 128.5. All of this took from 3-6 mins. During that time; I had no contact with any aircraft in my sector. Luckily; there were no conflictions. I spent several mins scrambling to regain control of my sector. It is ridiculous that we only have 1 backup frequency for several areas. It was only luck that prevented a major catastrophe at my sector. The frequencys we use routinely have problems. WX tends to worsen these problems. Yrs ago; we had several backup frequencys to choose from. Now; we are lucky if there is 1 available.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAU CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE LACK OF BACKUP FREQS AVAILABLE AT THE FACILITY WHEN A STUCK MIKE CAUSES FREQ BLOCKAGE.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE PULLMAN (PMM) HIGH ALT SECTOR IN THE NE AREA AT ZAU. ACR X WAS AN OVERFLT FROM DTW TO MSN. ACR X BLOCKED MY FREQ (126.12) WITH A STUCK MIKE. IT WAS AT THE TAIL END OF THE INBOUND RUSH TO ORD. I WAS TALKING TO 10 OR MORE ACFT WITH 15 OR MORE DATA BLOCKS ON MY SCOPE (I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT NUMBERS; I WAS VERY BUSY). I IMMEDIATELY INFORMED MY SUPVR OF THE SITUATION. I ASKED FOR A BACKUP FREQ TO USE. UNFORTUNATELY; THE ONLY BACKUP FREQ (128.65) HAD BEEN RELEASED TO ANOTHER AREA. WE HAD NO OTHER FREQ TO USE. AFTER SEVERAL MINS HAD PASSED; I GAVE UP ON THE SUPVR MAKING A DECISION. I ASKED THE SUPVR TO CLOSE A LOW ALT SECTOR AND GIVE ME THAT SECTOR'S FREQ (128.5). UNFORTUNATELY; I WAS UNABLE TO SELECT THE FREQ AT MY SECTOR. THE SUPVR DID NOT KNOW HOW TO MOVE THE FREQ TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO ME. FINALLY; SOMEONE MOVED 128.5 SO THAT IT WAS AVAILABLE TO BE SELECTED AT MY SECTOR USING VSCS. I THEN HAD ANOTHER SECTOR SEND AN ACFT TO 126.12 AND BROADCAST IN THE BLIND FOR ALL ACFT TO CHANGE TO 128.5. ALL OF THIS TOOK FROM 3-6 MINS. DURING THAT TIME; I HAD NO CONTACT WITH ANY ACFT IN MY SECTOR. LUCKILY; THERE WERE NO CONFLICTIONS. I SPENT SEVERAL MINS SCRAMBLING TO REGAIN CTL OF MY SECTOR. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT WE ONLY HAVE 1 BACKUP FREQ FOR SEVERAL AREAS. IT WAS ONLY LUCK THAT PREVENTED A MAJOR CATASTROPHE AT MY SECTOR. THE FREQS WE USE ROUTINELY HAVE PROBS. WX TENDS TO WORSEN THESE PROBS. YRS AGO; WE HAD SEVERAL BACKUP FREQS TO CHOOSE FROM. NOW; WE ARE LUCKY IF THERE IS 1 AVAILABLE.

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.