Our dedication has been providing Internet connectivity, access to Internet2, security services, and technical support to Iowa’s educational users. That user base consists of public and private K-12 Schools, Area Education Agencies, Community Colleges, Public and Private Colleges, and Libraries.
ICN's Education Landscape Connections
Serves 300+ locations in Iowa.
Connects all 15 Iowa community colleges.
Partners with top 150 cloud content and large network providers.
Community Anchor Program Sponsor giving exclusive access to Internet2 services and research facilities.
K-12 education users benefit from funding provided through FCC programs, thereby reducing the cost of eligible services with ICN’s common carrier designation.
Education Highlights
We connect schools and universities across the State. The ICN enables students to access online courses and educational resources making education more accessible and inclusive. Below are a few education highlights.
Many Iowa schools are turning to the ICN for Voice services to connect classrooms throughout their buildings. Below are two service examples.
During the summer of 2022, ICN installed a wireless phone for AGWSR (Ackley Geneva Wellsburg Steamboat Rock) to restore service for the school secretary after a lightning strike.
In the months before school began in 2023, ICN converted 90+ phones for Grundy Center CSD. We used the school’s current fiber connections to the elementary, middle, and high school buildings. In addition, an existing wireless connection was implemented for the Administration building to connect to the VoIP platform.
We coordinated the 800 tip line used for reporting safety concerns for Iowa’s Safe+Sound initiative. To help identify students in crisis, the Governor’s School Safety Bureau established the Safe+Sound Iowa app available to students, school personnel, parents, and concerned community members. Reports of safety concerns can be made securely and anonymously with the app, using SafeandSoundIowa.gov, or by calling 800-224-6018.
An advanced wireless research project is being managed and deployed on the campus of Iowa State University (ISU). This smart agriculture and rural broadband project span the counties of Story, Boone and Marshall, and includes surrounding research and producer farms, along with rural communities in central Iowa.
We are providing wavelengths across the ICN fiber to ISU in support of this project and connections. The primary physical connections are between the Agronomy Farm and the Black Engineering Building, and Boone High School and an ICN core point-of-presence (PoP). Those physical locations then connect to a number of towers, enabling the establishment of a wireless network providing coverage across the three project counties.
The project will support rural-focused research, education, and innovation. The technology for the agriculture community will focus on precision agriculture in both crop and livestock farms.
Many Iowa schools turn to the ICN for deployment of Voice services that connect classrooms together, customize settings using any web enabled device to set up voicemail, set call forwarding, and more.
"We have used the Internet connection for over 20+ years and [ICN's] security service DDoS Mitigation for almost four years. This service is invaluable as learning online has become more prevalent."
