ZHU CTLR VOICED CONCERN REGARDING FSS PRACTICE OF CALLING SECTORS DIRECTLY RELAYING LOW PRIORITY INFO RESULTING IN UNWANTED DISTRS.

Narrative

VARIOUS FLT SVC STATION CALLS ARE COMING DIRECTLY TO ACTIVE RADAR SECTORS IN THIS FACILITY (ZHU). THESE CALLS ARE FOR RADIO TWR LIGHT OUTAGE NOTIFICATIONS. THESE ARE VERY LOW PRIORITY CALLS THAT IN THE PAST WERE PLACED TO THE SUPVRS' POS. CTLRS ARE NOW RECEIVING THESE CALLS WHILE WORKING BUSY TFC. HERE IS THE IMPACT: CTLR IS WORKING BUSY TFC. CTLR BEGINS RECEIVING A LAND-LINE CALL (NOTIFICATION BY A CHIMING NOISE). CTLR ANSWERS THE CALL -- MANY TIMES NOT KNOWING WHO IS CALLING (THIS IS DUE TO HOW OUR VSCS COMS EQUIP IS SET UP). CTLR MAY BE EXPECTING THE CALL TO BE FROM FSS FOR AN IFR CLRNC. CTLR IS THEN CONFRONTED WITH AN FSS PERSON WANTING TO RELAY A TWR LIGHT OUTAGE TO THE SECTOR. UP TO THIS POINT; THE CTLR HAS BEEN DISTR FROM HIGHER PRIORITY DUTIES SUCH AS SEPARATING ACFT FROM OTHER ACFT AND AIRSPACE. IF CTLR TERMINATES THE CALL WITHOUT TAKING THE INFO; THEY THEN HAVE TO 'REACQUAINT' THEMSELVES WITH THE 'PICTURE.' IF THE CTLR DOES TAKE THE INFO; THEY THEN SPEND MORE TIME AWAY FROM THEIR HIGHER PRIORITY SAFETY DUTIES.