Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 98; Flight Crew Type 98
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
The last two times flying through HOU; both Ground Control and Tower Control have been combined into one frequency and consequently one Controller. During both of those flights; upon being cleared for takeoff; the Tower Controller was also coordinating pushback clearances and ground taxi instructions. Predictably; multiple aircraft called for pushback during our takeoff roll; all while 'stepping on each other' and blocking the frequency. As we were rotating; other aircraft were [sending unnecessary messages] (Why not get a full route clearance on Tower while we're at it?!).All these distracting radio events: the blocked transmissions; frivolous radio calls and non-runway-pertinent radio chatter; compromised the safe execution of what is arguably the highest risk portion of any flight; the takeoff. In this scenario; ATC was juggling pushbacks; ground taxiing aircraft; and most crucially aircraft taking off while loaded with humans and fuel. Worse yet; aircraft on takeoff were hearing it. Pilots' ears are trained to be listening for certain things at certain stages of the flight. Hearing pushback calls; blocked radios and the like on takeoff is nothing but a potentially dangerous distraction to the pilots.
Air carrier Captain reported an unsafe environment at HOU with the Ground and Local Control positions being combined into one frequency.