AN ACR FLC MISINTERPRETS THEIR CLRNC AND DSNDS BELOW THEIR ASSIGNED ALT DURING A STAR PROC. THE CTLR CORRECTS THEM. THE FLC COMPLAINS ABOUT THE STAR'S 'EXPECT ALT' BOXES.

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I WAS THE CAPT ON AN ACR FLT; A B737 ENRTE FROM BOI TO SLC. WE WERE DSNDING ON THE BEAR ARR WITH INITIAL CLRNC FROM FL370 TO FL260. WE WERE ON A SOUTHERLY HDG; WORKING ZLC FREQ 127.70. DURING THIS DSCNT; THE CTR CTLR RECLRED US ON 'THE BEAR ARR LNDG S.' THIS ARR; ON THE COMMERCIAL CHART; DISPLAYS A LNDG S BOX WITH AN (EXPECT) XING ALT OF 15000 FT. MOST DISPLAY BOXES WITH SIMILAR SHADING AND BORDERS; GOING INTO SLC; CONTAIN MANDATORY XING RESTRS AND MY FO AND MYSELF DID NOT CATCH THE 'EXPECT' WORDING ON THIS ARR. HENCE; BELIEVING OUR BEAR CLRNC TO BE A MANDATORY XING ALT; WE CONTINUED OUR DSCNT THROUGH FL260. APCHING FL250 THE CTLR QUESTIONED OUR ALT; WHEREUPON A VERY BRIEF DISCUSSION REVEALED OUR ERROR. SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE WERE RECLRED TO CROSS BEAR AT 15000 FT AND 250 KTS. NATURALLY; WE WERE CONCERNED AND EMBARRASSED AT OUR MISUNDERSTANDING; APOLOGIZED AND ASKED FOR A PHONE NUMBER TO CONTACT UPON OUR ARR. THE CTLR SAID; 'NO NUMBER WAS NECESSARY AND THERE WAS NO PROB.' HE SAID; 'THIS SAME PROB OCCURS AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WK!' HE ALSO TOLD US THAT THIS WAS A CONFUSING BOX ON THE APCH PLATE AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE THERE. ALSO; HE TOLD US THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IT REMOVED AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DO SO! IN CONCLUSION; THE ERROR IS STILL OURS. HOWEVER; REMOVING THE CONFUSING BOX; IE; SAME SHADING; SHAPE; ETC; FOR AN EXPECT VERSUS A RESTR ALT; I BELIEVE WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ALL OF US.