Why doesn't ATC use a unified frequency for the same control area?
This situation is due to usually 2+ sectors being worked. Each sector will use its own frequency when split. When these sectors get combined, one of 2 things will happen. 1) The controller will just work with both sectors frequencies keyed up and be listening on both and transmitting on both and have everyone go to the approrpriate frequency for the sector they're in or near. 2) The controller wants everyone on one frequency and has everyone going into those sector's that they are working to be on just one frequency. Frequency congestion and capability(if the transmitters/receivers are different locations for the different frequencies) are also factors.