Public safety has come to depend on ICN’s broadband to have a closed, secure connection for communicating during emergencies.
ICN's Public Safety Landscape
Delivering network transport for 911 services to 111 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). When Iowans dial 911, they use the ICN.
175+ Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD) locations.
215+ Department of Public Safety locations.
40 Iowa National Guard locations.
Public Safety Highlights
The ICN works with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, State Public Safety locations, Firstnet and PSAP locations, and the Iowa National Guard.
ICN provides a closed secure infrastructure for 911 wireless calls. In addition, we provide additional infrastructure and services related to Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s (HSEMD) initiative to merge existing wireline carrier networks, consisting of all of Iowa’s wireline providers on Homeland’s Next Generation 911 Emergency Services IP Network (ESInet).
Collaboration is underway to provide colocation facilities and transport services for a hosted equipment solution. This will result in the consolidation of equipment expenses associated with the existing 111 Public Service Answering Point (PSAP) locations.
Following a tornado, the ICN provided essential support to E911 facilities in Greenfield, Iowa. When local telecom services failed, the ICN's FirstNet backup connection maintained crucial public safety communications.
Additionally, during the storm, six of the ICN's network facilities successfully switched to generator power. ICN staff ensured these sites had power and air conditioning, guaranteeing the continued operation of network services.
Each day, Iowa’s public safety officers are communicating across the Land Mobile Radio (LMR) communications system. The ICN provides the network transport, and the radio traffic travels through the ICN infrastructure.
Since 2021, ICN has deployed FirstNet LTE connections to Iowa-based PSAPs for the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD).
ICN's network expertise and customer support were loud and clear when the DMPD needed assistance when the tornado sirens were in jeopardy.
The Radio Services Section within the Des Moines Police Department (DMPD) reached out to the ICN in early October when they received notice that their telecommunications provider was going to disconnect two data (T1) circuits on November 1.
Concerned about the circuits and their use, DMPD sought assistance from the ICN. Although ICN did not supply either of the circuits, we were prepared to help due to our continued partnership with the City of Des Moines and our dedication to public safety.
ICN Completes 75th Install for Public Safety Backup Connections
ICN partners with Iowa HSEMD to use FirstNet, Built with AT&T, as the robust and secure backup connection for Iowa-based PSAPs who provide emergency 9-1-1 services to Iowa communities.
"We use the ICN to transport all 9-1-1 calls originating within the State. All 911 call centers in Iowa (111) are connected via the ICN. This comes at a tremendous cost savings measure to the taxpayers of Iowa. Starting in 2011, all wireless 911 calls began being transported via the ICN fiber. In 2019, we added wireline calls onto the network."
A Vital Solution
Keeping Critical Communications Online
DMPD contacted the ICN when their telecom provider planned to disconnect two vital circuits. We implemented a fiber route solution to keep both radio communications and tornado sirens operational.
