Date: 201503
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZMA.ARTCC, FL
Aircraft: Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class E ZMA
ATC / advisory: Center ZMA
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Workload; Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Distraction
Second reporter function: Handoff / Assist; Enroute
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Contributing factors: ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Equipment / Tooling; Procedure
Primary problem: ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings

Narrative: While working the Oceanic R60 position; when communication (MEVA land-lines with Nassau Approach) have been historically intermittent and unreliable; example: with no notice they will fail and require that the controllers resort to commercial telephones to communicate between ZMA and Nassau Approach.  This is usually not timely and cumbersome; as these commercial phones are used by many controllers (for back-up) and are frequently busy.  Nonetheless; this is the only thing we have as a contingency.   So; with that in mind; as we coordinated the inbound (Aircraft X) to Nassau Approach; and also while attempting to complete the subsequent radar hand-off (Aircraft X) to Nassau Approach; once again; the line failed; thus rendering the inability to complete the hand-off with Nassau Approach.  Unfortunately; also at this same time; while the D-side was trying to complete the hand-off; a misunderstanding occurred (in that the Radar Controller inadvertently gave a frequency change to Aircraft X to contact Nassau Approach and immediately advised the pilot to disregard that instruction and stay on ZMA frequency (due to the fact that the D-Side advised that the line failed and he was unable to completely confirm the Radar Hand-off); however; the pilot went over to Nassau Approach anyway and ZMA observed Aircraft X descending further.  Approx. 4 minutes later (after observing Aircraft X descending into Nassau Approach airspace) we finally; via commercial telephone was able to ask Nassau ATC if they were talking to Aircraft X and did they take the hand-off? (as the lines were breaking up and chopping words).  Nassau ATC advised that they were talking to Aircraft X; but they did not get a complete hand-off (due to intermittent; land-lines); but were aware of the traffic and Aircraft X had no conflict so they just cleared him into their traffic pattern with no problem (as they also realized we had line problems and could see the target of Aircraft X anyway.Improve reliability of ZMA Oceanic land lines communications; as they are historically problematic and unreliable.


Second narrative: I was asked to assist the radar controller with coordination with Nassau approach however the Meva line and THR radar handoff line was out of service.  This problem has been going on for a long time and there seems to be no end in sight.  This airspace deviation can be attributed to the line which is inconsistent and the FAA does not seem to recognize this is a major safety issue.  We are encountering the same problems with the Santo Domingo lines for the last 4 months and nothing has been accomplished.  I feel our AF department and the FAA are not on the same page and we are just waiting for a major incident to fix this problem.  The lines need to be fixed or logged out indefinitely and use non radar procedures enough is enough.Fixed the problem for good or log out indefinitely.


Synopsis: ZMA Controllers report of landline problems with Nassau Approach that are intermittent and unreliable. Reports includes information of an airspace violation attributed to the outage.