Human-Machine Interface; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Aircraft; Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
ATC on CPDLC (Controller Pilot Datalink Communications) gave us a climb and maintain FL 360 without an ATC controller assigning us a clearance via radio. I don't know if it's legal in our ops spec for a B737. We called ATC via radio instead to verify assigned altitude. I don't remember seeing or reading if B737's can legally accept this type clearance. Why is ATC giving us CPDLC altitude clearances? We're not ETOPS over Washington DC! Now they're giving us reroutes via CPDLC. I don't know if we can accept these as well. I have talked to many pilots and the Assistant Chief Pilot and no one has an answer to my situation.
B737 Captain reported receiving ATC clearance via CPDLC.