Narrative:

Eil ATCT continues to violate jo 7110.65 and jo 7210.3 with regard to their requirements to broadcast ATIS messages during hours of operation. I was assigned to work the west radar (wr) position; which at the time was combined with our east radar sector. As a part of my relief briefing I was informed the eil had a 'blanket broadcast' on their ATIS. When an opportunity presented itself I tuned our hand-held pet radio to the eil ATIS frequency to understand what a 'blanket broadcast' meant. I expected to hear something along the lines of weather would be provided by eil ATCT. Instead the ATIS indicated; 'current weather will be issued by air traffic control on initial contact.' I initiated a land-line communication with eil ATCT and asked they make a new ATIS. The eil ATCT controller responded that there was a 'blanket broadcast.' I informed the controller that their ATIS broadcast was potentially obligating me to provide information which their ATIS broadcast was responsible to provide. I was told my request would be passed along to a supervisor and the land-line communication ended. When I was relieved from the position no new ATIS had been made and the same 'blanket broadcast' was still broadcasting when I listened again on the hand-held. Were the broadcast to state instead that; 'current weather will be issued by eielson tower on initial contact;' then it would be acceptable from the perspective that they are obligating themselves to provide that information when it is not available via the 'normal' means. However; I believe indicating that 'air traffic control' (which easily includes the TRACON responsible for their airport) will provide the weather obligates other entities to operate in a non-standard mode and such an obligation should be coordinated with the affected facilities prior to implementation of such procedures. I see two potential solutions: 1. Ensure eil ATCT conforms to the guidance of jo 7110.65 and jo 7210.3 with regard to their ATIS responsibilities. 2. Ensure eil ATCT's 'blanket broadcast' makes it clear that the weather information is available from eil ATCT; as opposed to any 'air traffic control' entity.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FAI Controller voiced concern regarding EIL ATC's failure to comply with published ATIS broadcast standards; claiming current practices obligate FAI controllers with extra unnecessary responsibilities.

Narrative: EIL ATCT continues to violate JO 7110.65 and JO 7210.3 with regard to their requirements to broadcast ATIS messages during hours of operation. I was assigned to work the west radar (WR) position; which at the time was combined with our east radar sector. As a part of my relief briefing I was informed the EIL had a 'blanket broadcast' on their ATIS. When an opportunity presented itself I tuned our hand-held PET radio to the EIL ATIS frequency to understand what a 'blanket broadcast' meant. I expected to hear something along the lines of weather would be provided by EIL ATCT. Instead the ATIS indicated; 'Current weather will be issued by air traffic control on initial contact.' I initiated a land-line communication with EIL ATCT and asked they make a new ATIS. The EIL ATCT controller responded that there was a 'blanket broadcast.' I informed the controller that their ATIS broadcast was potentially obligating me to provide information which their ATIS broadcast was responsible to provide. I was told my request would be passed along to a supervisor and the land-line communication ended. When I was relieved from the position no new ATIS had been made and the same 'blanket broadcast' was still broadcasting when I listened again on the hand-held. Were the broadcast to state instead that; 'Current weather will be issued by Eielson tower on initial contact;' then it would be acceptable from the perspective that they are obligating themselves to provide that information when it is not available via the 'normal' means. However; I believe indicating that 'air traffic control' (which easily includes the TRACON responsible for their airport) will provide the weather obligates other entities to operate in a non-standard mode and such an obligation should be coordinated with the affected facilities prior to implementation of such procedures. I see two potential solutions: 1. Ensure EIL ATCT conforms to the guidance of JO 7110.65 and JO 7210.3 with regard to their ATIS responsibilities. 2. Ensure EIL ATCT's 'blanket broadcast' makes it clear that the weather information is available from EIL ATCT; as opposed to any 'air traffic control' entity.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.