Greater Austin-Travis
County Regional Radio
System
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
GATRRS Overview
• GATRRS is the Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System.
• The system went live in 2003 as a trunked,
simulcast, 800 MHz, P-25 two-way voice radio
system serving Austin, Travis County, Austin
Independent School District, and UT-Austin.
• Since 2003, many systems have been connected
to the GATRRS master site for improved
interoperability.
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
GATRRS 2003
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
GATRRS 2013
GATRRS Overview
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
GATRRS Overview: Terms Defined
• Trunked: A way to share a limited number of
frequencies with a large number of users.
• Term comes from railroad, telegraphy, and
telephone worlds: “Trunk lines” connected major
cities together and telephone switching offices to
each other.
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
GATRRS Overview: Terms Defined
• Trunked: A way to share a limited number of
frequencies with a large number of users.
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
GATRRS Overview: Terms Defined
• 800 MHz: “Eight-hundred megahertz” is a frequency band
commonly used by local government public safety. AustinTravis, Bastrop, Lee, and WilCo use 800 MHz channels.
• 700 MHz: Also available to local public safety. The DPS
Capitol site (part of GATRRS) uses 700 MHz; the
Caldwell system uses 700 and 800 MHz.
• VHF: “Very High Frequency” band in the 150 MHz range
for public safety. Blanco, Burnet, Llano, MRGDC, and
STDC use VHF channels on their trunked GATRRS
systems.
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
What is Interoperability?
• Ability of first responders to communicate, via
voice or data, with other first responders from
other agencies in real time.
• Cross-jurisdiction, cross-discipline, on demand,
as authorized during multi-agency response.
• Can be accomplished in several ways.
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
Who can interoperate on GATRRS?
•
•
•
•
•
Law Enforcement
Fire Services
Emergency Medical Services
Public Utilities
Hospitals (through Capital Area Trauma Regional
Advisory Council)
• State and Feds (Texas offices) – DPS, FBI, ATF,
Tx Military Forces
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
Interoperability Governing Documents
• National Emergency Communications Plan (federal)
• Texas Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan
(SCIP covers all Texas public safety agencies).
• Texas Statewide Interoperability Channel Plan (covers all
Texas public safety agencies).
• GATRRS Interoperability Plan (covers all GATRRS
members).
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
Local, Regional, Statewide Governance
• Interlocal Agreements and Memos of
Understanding.
• Regional interoperability committees (CAPCOG
Long-Term Telecommunications Interoperability;
Region 49 Planning and Review; Capital Area
Emergency Communications District).
• Texas Interoperable Communications Committee.
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
Local, Regional, Statewide Governance
Local
Regional
GATRRS Governing Board
CAPCOG Exec Committee
GATRRS Operating Board
CAPCOG Homeland
Security Task Force
Statewide
Governor, DPS Director
Statewide Interop Coordinator
SCIP Executive Council
GATRRS Advisory Team
CAPCOG Long-Term
Interop Committee
SCIP Steering Committee
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
Local, Regional, Statewide Governance
Common Challenges:
•
•
•
•
Infrastructure and Equipment Costs
Sustainment Funding
Adoption of Standard Operating Procedures
End-User Training and Exercises