SCT CTLR CONCERNED WITH INSTALLATION OF NEW EQUIPMENT INTO OPERATIONAL AREA WHICH CAN NOT BE UTILIZED AND IS A DISTR.

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A NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WAS INSTALLED OVER THE POMONA RADAR SCOPE (OUR ONLY 24-HOUR/7-DAY A WEEK POSITION). IT IS CALLED 'CTAS;' AND IS AN OFFSHOOT OF THE FAILED 'PFAST' PROGRAM. THE DEVICE IS AN LCD SCREEN APPROXIMATELY 15 X 15 AND DISPLAYS ALL ARRIVAL TRAFFIC TO LAX. OUR AREA; AND THREE OTHERS IT WAS INSTALLED IN; DO NOT SEQUENCE THESE AIRCRAFT. THE DEVICE CANNOT BE PROGRAMMED TO DISPLAY AIRCRAFT TO OUR ARRIVAL AIRPORTS. IT HAS NO USE TO US. IT IS DISTRACTING; AND EVEN WHEN TURNED TO THE LOWEST BRIGHTNESS LEVEL; IT IS LIKE A SEARCH LIGHT IN OUR DARKENED RADAR ROOM. MANAGEMENT SAYS IT MAY NOT BE TURNED OFF. THIS SMELLS OF A POLITICAL DECISION. IT IS DISTRACTING; AND THEREFORE UNSAFE. THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF CONTROLLERS POLLED INFORMALLY ARE AGAINST IT (EXCEPT IN THE LAX ARRIVAL AREA; WHERE IT IS USEFUL) AND WANT IT TURNED OFF/REMOVED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: RPTR ADVISED THAT THE UNION WAS RENEGOTIATING EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION AND LOCATION WITH MGMNT. HE THOUGHT THAT THE INITIAL LOCATION OF THIS EQUIPMENT WAS NEGOTIATED TO BE AT THE SUPVR'S DESK; THAT THOSE INTERESTED IN ITS FUNCTIONALITY; COULD MONITOR IT THERE WITHOUT ENCUMBERING ANY OTHER CTLR. ONE OF THESE UNITS IS LOCATED IN EACH OPERATIONAL AREA; BUT ONLY USEABLE FOR; AND FUNCTIONAL AT THE LAX ARR SEQUENCE CTL POSITIONS. THE CTLR WAS ADVISED THAT FUNDING HAD BEEN HALTED FOR EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT FOR OTHER OPERATIONAL CTL AREAS.