Greater Austin Area Telecommunications Network (GAATN) Technical Guidelines and Procedures

Page 1 of 9 Approved 11.18.2025

I. Fiber Cable Specifications

A. Single-mode Optical fiber (OS2 or low water peak): Optical fiber shall meet or exceed the following standards:

1) TIA-492-CAAB

2) IEC 60793-2-50 Type B1.3

3) Telcordia General Requirements GR-20-CORE

4) ITU-T Recommendation G.652 (Tables A, B, C, and D)

B. Cabled single-mode optical fiber: Cabled optical fiber shall meet or exceed the following standards/specifications:

1) ANSI/ICEA-S87-640, Optical Fiber Outside Plant Communications Cable

2) Telcordia General Requirements GR-20-CORE

3) ITU-T Recommendation G.652 (Tables A, B, C, and D)

4) 250µm coated fibers

5) Loose-tube construction

6) Fully water-blocked using craft-friendly water-soluble materials

7) Armored

8) Meet the National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements when extended to inside a building (e.g., plenum rated)

9) Self-support cable shall not be used.

C. Approved Fiber Optic Cable manufacturers:

1) Corning

2) OFS

3) Prysmian

4) Commscope

5) Systimax

6) Superior Essex

7) General Cable

D. Cabled optical fiber performance Cabled optical fiber shall meet or exceed the following performance specifications:

1) See table 1 below:

Table 1 Cabled optical fiber performance specifications

Optical fiber type Wavelength (nm)

Maximum attenuation (dB/km)

Single mode, outside plant 1310

0.35 0.21

Note: Other cabled optical fiber (e.g., indoor-outdoor, indoor) performance specifications shall be verified with GAATN engineer.

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E. Outside Plant Cable: Outside plant cable shall meet or exceed the following specifications:

1) Gel filled buffer tube, 250 um, acrylic loose tube

2) Any new fiber installation, including permanent repairs, shall be placed at 192 count fiber on all rings, unless otherwise approved by the GAATN Board.

3) Corrugated steel armor

4) Dry core wrapped with flexible strength members and covered by a water blocking tape

5) UV resistant black cable jacket

6) Capable of bend radii as small as 20 x outside cable diameter (under installation load) and

10 x outside cable diameter (long term load).

7) Capable of a minimum crush resistance of 850 lb./in.

8) Self-support type cable shall not be specified for new GAATN installations.

9) GAATN standard cable configuration (see Tables 2 and 3 below):

Table 2 192 fiber single mode armored Blue tube 12 fibers Orange tube 12 fibers Green tube 12 fibers Brown tube 12 fibers Slate tube 12 fibers White tube 12 fibers Red tube 12 fibers Black tube 12 fibers Yellow tube 12 fibers Violet tube 12 fibers Rose tube 12 fibers Aqua tube 12 fibers Blue with black stripe tube 12 fibers Orange with black stripe tube 12 fibers Green with black stripe tube 12 fibers Brown with black stripe tube 12 fibers

Table 3 288 fiber single mode armored Blue tube 12 fibers Orange tube 12 fibers Green tube 12 fibers Brown tube 12 fibers Slate tube 12 fibers White tube 12 fibers Red tube 12 fibers Black tube 12 fibers

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Table 3 continued Yellow tube 12 fibers Violet tube 12 fibers Rose tube 12 fibers Aqua tube 12 fibers Blue with black stripe tube 12 fibers Orange with black stripe tube 12 fibers Green with black stripe tube 12 fibers Brown with black stripe tube 12 fibers Slate with black stripe tube 12 fibers White with black stripe tube 12 fibers Red with black stripe tube 12 fibers Black with white stripe tube 12 fibers Yellow with black stripe tube 12 fibers Violet with black stripe tube 12 fibers Rose with black stripe tube 12 fibers Aqua with black stripe tube 12 fibers

II. Installation Standards

A. General Conditions

1) Network Configuration: GAATN recommends that entity sites implement redundant fiber uplinks or establish a backup connection with a third-party internet service provider. This setup may help maintain site connectivity in the event of unplanned fiber ring cable cuts or scheduled maintenance.

2) Bend Radius: Never exceed the minimum cable bend radius specified by the manufacturer. For loose tube cable, the bend radius is specified at 20 times the cable diameter during tension/installation conditions and 10 times during static conditions (check the data sheet).

3) Pulling Tension: Never exceed the maximum specified tensile force/cable pull strength as specified by the manufacturer. This is typically 600 lb. for OSP loose tube cable.

4) Cable Breakaways: A cable breakaway rated at or below the maximum specified cable pull strength load shall be used on all pulling operations. The breakaway is used to ensure the pull strength of the cable does not exceed its maximum rated pull tension.

5) Swivels: Swivels shall be used on the pulling end of the cable to prevent accumulation of cable twist.

6) Cable Pulling Grip Installation: A cable pulling grip shall be applied to a section of cable that has had the jacket removed so that it can directly grip both the cable core and the jacket.

7) Cable Crush: Cable shall not be crushed. Loose tube cable should not be exposed to a short-term load > 125 lb./linear inch. Any different specified values will be noted on the cable data sheet.

8) Cable Figure Eighting: Cable may be temporarily placed in a Figure 8 pattern for installation purposes (e.g., if it needs to be removed from the reel). This pattern minimizes the accumulation

Page 4 of 9 Approved 11.18.2025 of cable twist. Steps shall be taken to maintain minimum bend radius and to prevent cable damage.

9) Bonding and Grounding: Cables shall be bonded to ground at all splice cases, cable dead ends and termination points (along with the associated rack).

10) Document conditions of splice locations including manufacturer of splice enclosure, method of splicing.

B. Aerial Placement

1) Never overlash new cable onto existing self-support cable.

2) Wreck out and remove replaced cable within 10 working days of the final splicing event.

3) Do not overlash to existing dead cable unless specifically instructed to do so by GAATN management.

4) The cable route shall be reviewed and plans developed for deficiencies well in advance of cable placing or splicing.

5) Cable attachment clearances shall be verified to be achievable. Cable attachment heights at every pole along cable route shall be documented as part of the deliverable package

6) Tree trimming shall be performed in accordance with local jurisdiction Austin specifications

7) Place 100’ of cable slack with management brackets (on one side) at all major intersections

8) Place DOM (duct-on-messenger) at every highway cable crossing

9) Cable should be double lashed in the two spans adjacent to every splice case.

10) Cable and strand shall be bonded and grounded to the power MGNV (multigrounded neutral vertical) at least every 1000’, as well as at all splice cases and dead-end points.

11) Splice Cases shall be hung with brackets from the messenger. Tie wraps shall not be used to attach enclosures permanently aloft.

12) 100’ of slack shall be placed every 1000’ of aerial placement in slack management brackets.

13) 100’ of slack shall be placed at every splice point in slack management brackets.

14) GAATN CLEARANCES (see table 4 below):

Table 4 – GAATN CLEARANCES MINIMUM CLEARANCE Minimum separation from Power (Supply/Comm Space) 40 inches Minimum Running along ROW (Unless otherwise granted by AHJ)

15 ft 6 inches

Minor Street Crossing 16 ft (exceeds NESC) Major Street Crossing 17 ft (exceeds NESC) TxDOT ROW Crossing 18 ft (exceeds NESC) TxDOT ROW Overpass Crossing 30 ft (exceeds NESC)

15) FOC Wrap-around markers shall be placed at every pole contacted or rearranged. GAATN’s assigned color is red with black lettering.

C. Underground Placement

1) Minimum cover for GAATN underground plant shall be 36 inches.

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2) GAATN trench shall always contain a 5 inch, 3000psi concrete cap immediately above the top tier of installed ducts. Balance of trench backfill shall be in accordance with local jurisdiction requirements for utility trench backfill.

3) All Buried or Underground fiber cable shall be protected with innerduct. Standard GAATN installation for innerduct in a 4inch sch40 PVC conduit is 2 each 1.25” innerducts plus a muletape

4) Cable lubricant shall be used to reduce the cable friction force when pulling cable into duct

5) At no time shall more than 600 pounds of tension be placed on any fiber cable while it is being pulled through conduit. It is preferred that all fiber cable be pulled by hand. If power winches or mechanical advantage devices are used to pull cable, a dynamometer or tensionometer shall be used to ensure that maximum tension is not exceeded. Alternatively, a breakaway swivel rated at 550 pounds may be included in the linkage. Torsion shall be avoided by the use of a swivel at the cable end. While under tension, a minimum bend radius of 20 times the outside cable diameter shall be maintained through the use of pulleys and sheaves where required. After pulling, no bend shall have a radius, at rest, of less than 10 times the outside cable diameter.

6) All entrance conduits shall be sealed appropriately to prevent water from entering manholes or buildings

7) All splice cases housed in manholes shall be mounted to and attached vertically, end cap end up, onto the manhole wall.

8) 100’ of slack shall be left in all manholes containing a splice case. An additional 100’ of slack shall be left every for every 400’ in pull-through sections of the underground.

D. Labeling

1) In the underground, each cable and inner duct shall be permanently labeled with its unique Ring ID at both ends and in every manhole it passes through.

2) In aerial situations, the appropriate fiber wrap around marker (GAATN is usually red) shall be placed on the cable at every pole.

3) Each splice case shall be stenciled with its unique id number per the Bentley fiber as-builds.

4) Each lightguide box shall be labeled with its node name and location information as well as its immediate upstream and downstream node locations. This information shall be reviewed, verified and updated on every site visit.

5) Each GAATN pole shall have a label placed that is between 5’6” and 5’8” from the ground with a GAATN pole tag; size of tag shall be 1” W x 9” L, material .024 AWG aluminum and it shall be red with black print.

E. Notifications: Contractors are required to make the following notifications while working on

GAATN plant:

1) Placing

a) Notify Network Management staff of proposed placing schedule and of all changes to that schedule

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b) Notify involved partner prior to doing work in any partner owned facility. Follow partner established procedure for access.

2) Splicing – Day 1

a) Contact all partners via phone (contact numbers attached as last page of this document) early on the morning of the scheduled splicing to get final clearance to proceed. If anyone says “No.”, contact Network Management staff immediately. If all say “Yes.”, advise Network Management staff that you are proceeding. If the partner does not return call within 60 min it will be interpreted as confirmation to proceed.

b) Contact Network Management staff with news of any trouble encountered during splicing via phone and team email at gaatn@austintexas.gov

c) Contact Network Management staff at midday with work update.

d) When work is complete, notify Network Management staff. Network Management staff will notify all partners via the GAATN_ALERTS mail server list.

3) Testing – Day 2

a) Notify involved partner to arrange for access into partner owned facility for fiber testing.

Follow partner established access procedures.

b) Contact Network Management staff when testing has been completed. Network Management staff will notify all partners via the GAATN_ALERTS mail server list.

c) Partners are to be available to subcontractors during splicing events for confirmation of circuit recovery, approval to proceed and assistance during the project or repair event within 60 min of the contractor’s call.

F. Splicing and Terminations

1) A detailed schedule indicating the sequence of splicing events in order with a projected schedule will be provided to Network Management at least one week before planned splicing date

2) Unless otherwise noted in writing, all fiber terminations shall be a fusion splice to Megladon Hardened Lens Contact (HLC) LC/UPC singlemode (OS2) pigtail assemblies.

3) All singlemode (OS2) patch cords provided for use at an entity’s node or a common supernode site shall be Megladon HLC factory terminated with the appropriate connectors as specified in writing by the requesting entity.

4) Fiber shall be cleaned and prepped for splicing the day before a scheduled splice whenever possible.

5) Splicing shall be planned and executed such that all work can be completed in one business day, unless other arrangements are made with Network Management

6) Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) shall not be used to clean fiber for splicing or termination. Utilize a non-IPA cleaner that cleans ALL SOILS and then use a straight-line motion from ‘wet’ to ‘dry’ over the cleaning surface.

7) Calibration certificates indicating that equipment calibration meets National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and is calibrated at least once in the previous year from the testing date shall be provided upon request.

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8) As a field practice installation procedure, a single splice with an estimated dB loss higher than 0.05 dB (as per the fusion splicing machine) shall be re-spliced.

9) The only allowed splicing process shall be fusion splicing. The splice protection method used for each fused strand shall be individual strand shrink wrap protection.

10) Manufacturer’s instructions for installation of new and re-entry into existing splice cases shall be followed. Splice trays shall be strapped down and the straps secured with tie wraps before closing, securing and rehanging of the case.

11) At all GAATN splice locations to include mid-sheath and reel to reel splice points and termination points, all allocated and unallocated fiber tubes shall remain intact at all times.

12) Fiber installations should minimize the number of splice cases. New segments should be constructed using cable reels that are at least 10,000 feet long, and splice cases for drop cables to an entity site should involve a mid-sheath opening.

G. Testing

1) Before Installation: Each new reel of fiber shall be pre-tested with an OTDR for length and transmission anomalies while on the reel immediately after receipt. If any anomaly is detected, the reel will be rejected and returned to the manufacturer for replacement.

2) After Installation and Termination

a) Obtain contact information for all sites that will be involved in testing operation. Plan testing schedule and submit a copy to Network Management staff.

b) All single mode fiber strands shall be tested bidirectional using an optical loss test set

(OLTS). TIA-526-7 shall be used for testing instruction. Testing from Fiber Distribution Unit to Fiber Distribution Unit (adapter-to-adapter) shall be conducted using the one jumper reference method. Testing from patchcord to patchcord (plug-to-plug) shall be conducted using the three jumper reference method. Optical fiber loss measurements will be taken at 1310 nm and 1550 nm and recorded with the test instrument.

c) Bidirectional OTDR traces shall be taken of each fiber segment at 1310 nm and 1550 nm. A launch cable shall be used so that the end connector can be seen and measured. The launch cable must meet the length specified by the OTDR manufacturer installed between the OTDR and the first link connection.

d) The maximum allowable loss across any single splice shall be 0.2dB.

e) The maximum allowable loss across any new connector pair shall be 0.3dB.

f) Network Management staff shall be notified of every existing connector pair that has a loss greater than 0.75dB while testing.

g) Testing shall be planned and executed such that all work can be completed in one business day, unless other arrangements are made with Network Management staff.

h) As-builts, splice case audits, and test results shall be turned in to GAATN Network

Management on a per project basis within 5 business days after project completion.

III. Supported Cut-over Procedure

A. One week prior to the splicing session:

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1) Visit nodes that will be affected by the replacement, write down information (sequentials, cable type, etc.) from the jacket of the cables and verify order in which fibers are loaded in the LIU boxes.

2) Drop node cases, write down information (sequentials, cable type, etc.) from the jacket of the node cables and match with information collected from inside the node.

3) Send VFL light, if possible, from inside the node towards case to verify cable identity.

4) Verify ring cables and identity (Input and Output).

5) Label all cables and write down splicing configuration. Develop splicing sequence.

6) Send splicing sequence to Network Management staff and affected entities for approval.

7) Review approved splicing sequence with all the technicians involved in the project. Emphasize order of work, verification of ring closure with all affected entities before proceeding to next step, etc.

B. Day of splicing session:

1) Drop case, prep new ring cable, and secure all cables to prevent any movement/slipping of the cables during the splicing process.

2) Verify that the current splicing configuration is as expected and documented to ensure that the planned splicing configuration is doable and will be successful. If there are any changes or unexpected splices, get management approval and modify the splicing configuration drawing as necessary.

3) After calling and getting approval from all affected entities, proceed with the initial cut on the ring cable. If a node cable is involved, before opening the input or output side of the node cable, double check to make sure the other side is intact and will not be affected so the node site can remain online in a “wrap” status. Failure to do this correctly can result in isolation of the site. Proceed with opening the node cable on the appropriate side and remove it from the old splice case.

4) Identify and insert the new matching side ring cable in the new splice case and splice it to the corresponding open node fibers. Here again, make sure not to affect the other side of the node cable which is still active via the old ring fiber.

5) Confirm with the entity that the node is 100 % back online, then request approval to proceed with opening the other side of the node.

6) Remove remaining old ring cable from the splice case and insert the matching new cable.

7) Splice corresponding node fibers to the ring cable according to splicing configuration.

8) If the splice point is a Reel/Reel type, proceed to splice the rest of the fibers as the splicing configuration indicates; typically color-to-color, but in certain instances there may be discrepancies which need to be duplicated to maintain connectivity (the splicing configuration should note this).

9) If there are multiple node sites spliced together in the same case, the trays housing the fibers of the node cables spliced within themselves need to be set aside and not be disturbed.

10) After splicing session is 100 % completed and all the ring fibers are spliced back together, call all the entities affected by the project and verify that their networks are back up.

IV. Inspections

A. Every project constructed and spliced for GAATN is subject to inspection(s) by Network Management. All aspects of each project (placing, splicing and testing) will be included.

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B. Omissions or deficiencies must be corrected within 5 business days unless other arrangements are made with Network Management and Users.

C. Inspection format is based on the GAATN standard Construction Inspection Report.

V. NOTE TO VENDORS: NOTHING IN THIS DOCUMENT SHALL BE INTERPRETED AS SUPERSEDING

SPECIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED BY APPLICABLE AUTHORITIES OR OTHERWISE

STATED IN THE MAIN GAATN MOVES, ADDS, AND CHANGES OR GAATN MAINTENANCE CONTRACT

DOCUMENTS.