1. Greater Austin-Travis County Regional Radio System

2. 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.

3. Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
GATRRS 2003

4. GATRRS Overview GATRRS 2013 Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
GATRRS 2013
GATRRS Overview

5. GATRRS Overview: Terms Defined
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.

6. GATRRS Overview: Terms Defined
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.

7. GATRRS Overview: Terms Defined
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. Austin-Travis, 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.

8. What is Interoperability?
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.

9. Who can interoperate on GATRRS?
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

10. Interoperability Governing Documents
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).

11. Local, Regional, Statewide Governance
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.

12. Local, Regional, Statewide Governance
Greater Austin-Travis County
Regional Radio System
Local, Regional, Statewide Governance
Local
Regional
Statewide
Governor, DPS Director
CAPCOG Exec Committee
GATRRS Governing Board
Statewide Interop Coordinator
CAPCOG Homeland
Security Task Force
GATRRS Operating Board
SCIP Executive Council
GATRRS Advisory Team
CAPCOG Long-Term
Interop Committee
SCIP Steering Committee

13. Local, Regional, Statewide Governance
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