Large Transport
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1.3
Troubleshooting; Workload; Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
I was the Radar controller for Area 1; Sector 6. This is the only sector that is radar-to-radar with ZMA (Miami Center); an adjacent facility to the northwest. Similar sounding calls signs were a factor; but the highest contributing factor was the frequency issues (specifically 135.7). I had told the Controller in Charge (CIC)/Supervisor (SUP) that the frequencies were bad. For majority of the session; I had to toggle between the MAIN and STANDBY transmitters and receivers. Some aircraft could hear me; with no problems at all; but other aircraft would check-on four or five times. I would respond; but they continued to check on; as if I had not answered. I was stepping down Aircraft X; which was cutting across my airspace direct to ZZZZZ Intersection. Aircraft Y entered my airspace later during the session and checked on frequency. I had made 2 transmissions to Aircraft X; to descend and maintain FL330; to start the descent. Aircraft Y took the descent and descended to FL330 from FL350; but was still in ZMA sector 62 airspace.The frequency outages have been a common problem for quite some time now. Management has elevated this safety hazard to higher authorities; but to no avail. There are blind spots in the airspace and most days the frequencies are terrible; specifically 135.7; 134.3 and 118.15. This radio communication issue has been a problem for a long time and presents a safety hazard. It also adds unnecessary workload for both the controllers and the pilots. Both parties have to continually repeat transmissions.
San Juan Center Controller reported radio problems and similar sounding aircraft call signs that led to an aircraft take another's descent clearance; which then became an airspace violation.