Achilles,
For acurate answers about the US air traffic system have our brothers down below contact the National Air Traffic Controllers Association National Office at 202-628-5451 and ask for Mr. John Carr - National President, or Ms. Ruth Marlin - Executive Vice President of NATCA.
If they are willing they can also post questions on the NATCA Public BBS at:
http://www.natca.org/PublicBBS.asp
Mike
FWA