WASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation

Administration issued ground stops at Dallas Love Field and

Dallas-Fort Worth airports on Friday afternoon after a

communication issue delayed more than 300 flights.

The FAA said it was slowing traffic due to a reported local

telephone company equipment issue that does not involve FAA

equipment. "The FAA is working with the telephone company to

determine the cause," the agency said.

The issues are expected to persist for several more

hours.

The FAA has faced numerous communications issues this

year.

On Thursday, the FAA slowed flights into Denver

International Airport because automation issues between an

approach control tower and Denver air traffic control were

requiring manual handoff procedures for flights causing delays

averaging 30 to 45 minutes.

A series of issues involving the aging U.S. air traffic

control system prompted Congress in July to award an initial

$12.5 billion in funding to overhaul the system that FAA leaders

say is having tech issues almost everyday.

The FAA air traffic control network's woes have been

years in the making, but a rush of high-profile mishaps,

near-misses, staffing shortages and a catastrophic crash in

January between a U.S. Army helicopter and regional American

Airlines ( AAL ) jet that killed 67 has spiked public alarm.