Critical Infrastructure
Iowa Communications Network is more than a network; it's the critical infrastructure backbone for Iowans.
ICN's Statewide Impact
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Delivering 911 Calls
Every 911 call that’s made in Iowa is transported across the network to be delivered to public safety answering points.
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Connecting Healthcare Sites
Iowa's hospitals & clinics are connected together. They can share imaging, while ICN keeps traffic local in the State.
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Essential Government Services
Connections to courthouses, driver’s license stations, & workforce dev offices. Giving rural Iowans access to services.
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Radio Traffic Travels the Network
Each day, public safety officers communicate across the Land Mobile Radio system. That radio traffic travels on the ICN.
What is critical infrastructure?
Critical infrastructure is defined by the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2001 within the USA PATRIOT Act, which references systems & assets.
🚨 Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management and FEMA designated ICN as Iowa's lead agency for Emergency Support Function 2 (ESF-2), Communications.
➡️ This places the ICN in charge of all communications-related responsibilities during emergencies.
The Impact of the Fiber Optic Asset
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ICN Reinvests Back to the Private Sector
ICN reinvested $22.1 million in FY25, with $8.1 million to private telecoms and the remainder to the private sector.
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Middle Mile
We play a critical role. The importance of middle-mile providers are growing as demand for bandwidth increases.
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$138 Millions in Savings
Over the years, ICN has saved Iowa's schools, libraries, hospitals, clinics & healthcare providers in telecom services.
Are Customer Required to Use the ICN?
Customers choose the ICN for the value we provide, not because it is required. ICN's revenue is primarily from service fees.
We welcome the opportunity to discuss how the ICN and its statewide fiber optic assets can be more efficient.
Connecting Rural Communities
540+
Serving 540+ public safety locations; delivering 911 network transport to 111 PSAPs across Iowa.
240+
A secure, high-speed network connecting 240+ rural healthcare locations for time-sensitive file sharing.
550+
Serving 550+ government locations: courthouses, workforce development offices, DOT stations for essential services.
490+
Connecting the next generation by serving 490 education locations and connecting rural classrooms statewide.
Advantages of the ICN
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Connecting all of Iowa's 99 Counties
ICN connects all 99 counties with its 3,400 miles of owned fiber and leased connections.
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Closed Users Group
Dedicated support for public safety, healthcare, government & education sectors. All calls handled by local technicians.
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Network Core Uptime at 100%
ICN's core network has maintained 100% stable and reliable uptime since Fiscal Year 2022.
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Cybersecurity Protection
Over 7,400 DDoS attacks on the State network were successfully blocked in FY25, thanks to ICN's cybersecurity protection
Demonstrating Results
We work with partners to provide essential services for our customers and help them continue their mission of serving Iowans. We appreciate all the collaboration. Read about our results below.
Dependable Connections
Connections for Elevators, Fire Alarm, & Security Systems
ICN and Granite are upgrading State government buildings (sites) with dependable cellular connections for elevators, fire alarm, and security systems in locations Iowans use daily.
ICN's Redundancy and Reliability
A Lifeline During the Greenfield Tornado
Following a tornado, the ICN provided essential support to E911 facilities in Greenfield. When local telecom services failed, the ICN's FirstNet backup connection maintained crucial communications.
Connections for Government
Services for the Iowa Caucuses
For the 2024 Iowa Caucuses, ICN offered temporary services at the Capitol Complex in Des Moines to support national media. The most popular service was multiple 1 Gb Internet connections.
Connections for Education
Safety Reporting
The Safe+Sound Iowa initiative provides multiple ways to report safety concerns for students in crisis. ICN coordinated the 1-800-224-6018 number tip line used for reporting safety concerns.