Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with the Greater Austin Area Telecommunications Network Agency to include provisioning space for the construction of a secondary Network Operation Control Center at no cost to the City. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.
De
Lead Department
Austin Facilities Management.
Fiscal Note
Use of the space will be provided at no cost to the City or Greater Austin Area Telecommunications Network Agency. The Greater Austin Area Telecommunications Network Agency will be responsible for funding the construction and maintenance of the Network Operation Control Center.
Prior Council Action:
May 20, 1993 - Council approved the interlocal agreement establishing the Greater Austin Area Telecommunications Network Agency.
For More Information:
Darrell Alexander, Director of Austin Facilities Management, 512-974-7948; Kerrica Laake, CIO for Austin Technology Services, 512-978-1535.
Additional Backup Information:
Greater Austin Area Telecommunications Network Agency (GAATN) is an interlocal administrative agency organized under the Texas Interlocal Cooperation Act and formed by the City of Austin, Austin Independent School District, Travis County, Austin Community College, Lower Colorado River Authority, the University of Texas, and the Texas Department of Information Resources. GAATN operates a private governmental fiber optic network that provides data, voice, and video services to the seven GAATN members which supports emergency response operations for Austin Police, Austin Fire, and Austin-Travis County EMS.
Austin Technology Services has provided network and operations management of GAATN via service level agreement since 2000. As a result of the existence of the GAATN Agency, the City and other agency members realize considerable savings in intra-city network communications. As of 2024, the seven public entities of GAATN share an annual combined net savings amount of $22,522,680 and of that, the City’s annual net savings amount is $8,272,080.
GAATN requires a secondary Network Operation Control Center (NOCC) to provide redundancy for voice, data, and network monitoring functions. The backup NOCC was previously located at the Austin Convention Center on a temporary basis. This interlocal agreement will establish a permanent location at a City-owned facility. The arrangement will strengthen network redundancy for City operations at no cost to the City. GAATN will bear full responsibility for construction, equipment, and ongoing maintenance of the NOCC.
The key elements of this interlocal agreement include a dedicated space for the permanent location of the GAATN's backup NOCC and clearly defined responsibilities for design, construction, utilities, security, and ongoing operations.