Below are common questions about the ICN.
List items for Accordion-FAQ
Answers to frequently asked questions about the Iowa Communication Network, its history, mission, and users.
The Iowa Communications Network (ICN) is an independent state government agency.
ICN administers a closed statewide fiber optic network. The network links all 99 of Iowa's counties.
Customers choose the ICN because they want its telecommunications service, not because they have to.
To learn more about the ICN, go to our About Page.
The ICN provides services to:
- K-12 schools
- Higher Education
- Hospitals and Clinics
- State Government
- Federal Government
- National Guard Armories
- Public Safety Entities
- Libraries
ICN is not authorized to provide services to residential or private businesses. You can find our more on our Customers Page.
Customers choose ICN because of the value in our services, not because it’s required. Fees for services make up the majority of the revenue received.
Yes, for authorized customers. The ICN offers high-speed internet and broadband services specifically tailored for education, healthcare, government, and public safety entities.
Discover how the ICN powers Iowa. Explore our Service Catalog page and see the Customers Page for who we connect every day.
ICN offers many services for its customers.
- ICN's Data Services include:
- Internet
- Ethernet
- Primary and Secondary Domain Name Service (DNS)
- Secure Transport Connections to a Cloud/Content Provider ( Cloud Connect)
- For Security Services, ICN offers:
- Managed Firewall
- DDoS Mitigation
- Security Consultations
- ICN's Voice Service offerings include:
- ICN's Professional Service options include:
ICN serves nearly 12,000 telephone, fax, and modem numbers. The ICN is the corporate telecommunications provider for the state government enterprise. It provides line-side telephone services on the Capitol Complex and other locations in the Des Moines Metro Area.
Our support team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call: Network Operations Center (NOC) via a toll-free number (800-572-3940) or 515-725-4400.
Email: ICNServiceDesk@iowa.gov
Current customers can also use our online Customer Portal.
Call immediately. If an underground utility line is hit while digging, contact our Network Operations Center (NOC) 24/7 at 800-572-3940 or 515-725-4400.
Quick reporting can help minimize repair costs and fines.
No. The ICN has not received a General Fund appropriation since 2004 and operates primarily on fee-based revenues. Construction costs for the original Network were reimbursed to the State in full in 2005. The ICN receives equipment appropriations only for upgrades and disaster recovery at authorized sites.
Yes. We believe in supporting Iowa’s economy. In 2025 alone, the ICN paid $22.1 million back to private businesses, including $8.1 million directly to local Iowa telephone and internet companies for "last-mile" connections.
To learn more about how we work with fellow Iowans, check out the Public Private Partnership Page.
The Network consists of approximately 3,400 miles of owned fiber. Leased connections make up the balance of the network.
Our main business office is in the Grimes State Office Building on the State Capitol Complex in Des Moines.
Find out more about contacting the ICN on our Support Page.
The ICN is an independent executive branch agency. It is governed by the Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission (ITTC), a five-member board appointed by the Governor and approved by the Iowa Senate.
The ICN became a state agency in 1994, though the vision for a statewide fiber network began in the early 1980s.
To learn more about our past and see the timeline, visit the History Page.
These refer to the phases of the Network's construction:
- Part I: The core backbone connecting universities, community colleges, and the Capitol.
- Part II: Expansion to create a point of presence in all 84 remaining counties.
- Part III: The "edge" connections to individual schools, libraries, and local authorized users.
The ICN was established under Iowa Code Chapter 8D. Detailed clarification of these laws can be found in Chapter 751 of the Iowa Administrative Code.
Our admin rules and more about this topic can be found on our Legislative Code Page.
The ICN cannot endorse specific products. We can confirm vendor status and discuss the procurement process, but we do not provide performance opinions unless documented by a specific service incident.
Even though you don't have ICN at home, you interact with our network almost every day! The ICN provides the secure, high-speed critical infrastructure that keeps your local schools connected, links DOT stations when you renew your license, supports the 911 dispatchers who answer emergency calls, and many of the essential services from Iowa's anchor institutions that serve you everyday.
Security is our top priority. Because ICN is a "closed" network, it is inherently more secure than the public internet. We also offer advanced security services like Managed Firewalls and DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) Mitigation to ensure that sensitive data (like student records, medical research, and state government information) is protected from outside cyber attacks.
In an emergency, every second counts. The ICN provides dedicated, ultra-reliable fiber connections to Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), 911 call centers, and National Guard Armories across the state. This ensures that when an Iowan calls for help, dispatchers have the secure, uninterrupted connection they need to send first responders immediately.