Public safety has come to depend on ICN’s broadband to have a closed, secure connection for communicating during emergencies.
Our Public Safety Network Footprint
Iowa's emergency teams rely on ICN's highly secure broadband network to communicate when seconds count.
111 Dispatch Centers (PSAPs): We provide the secure network transport for local 911 services. When Iowans call 911, their calls travel across the ICN.
175+ Emergency Management Sites: Keeping the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD) connected statewide.
215+ Department of Public Safety Locations: Providing secure communication paths for Iowa's state troopers and public safety offices.
40 Iowa National Guard Locations: Maintaining reliable connections for local guard armories during emergencies.
Public Safety Highlights
The Iowa Communications Network (ICN) works closely with key emergency agencies to keep Iowans safe. Our partners include Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, State Public Safety offices, FirstNet, local emergency dispatch centers, and the Iowa National Guard.
The ICN provides a highly secure, private network that handles wireless 911 calls.
Additionally, we support the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD) in merging all of Iowa’s local phone networks into a single system. This unified system is called the Next Generation 911 Emergency Services IP Network (ESInet).
What this means for local communities:
Shared Technology: We are working together to host emergency equipment in central locations.
Lower Costs: By sharing systems, we can reduce equipment costs across Iowa's 111 local emergency dispatch centers, also known as Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs).
Following a major tornado, the ICN provided critical lifeline support to emergency 911 facilities in Greenfield, Iowa.
When local telephone and internet services failed, the ICN’s built-in FirstNet backup connection kept vital emergency dispatch communications running.
During the storm, six of the ICN's network sites successfully switched to backup generator power. Our field staff worked quickly to keep these sites fueled and cooled, ensuring that critical state network services never dropped.
Every single day, Iowa’s police officers, firefighters, and medics communicate using the Land Mobile Radio (LMR) network.
The ICN serves as the digital highway for this system. We provide the network transport that allows these life-saving radio messages to travel instantly across the state.
Installing Backup Connections for Iowa Dispatch Centers
We are constantly expanding Iowa's emergency network. Since 2021, the ICN has been installing wireless FirstNet backup connections at local 911 dispatch centers (PSAPs) for HSEMD.
These backup connections ensure that if a physical fiber line is accidentally cut or damaged during a disaster, dispatchers can still receive 911 calls without interruption.
We are constantly expanding Iowa's emergency network. Since 2021, the ICN has been installing wireless FirstNet backup connections at local 911 dispatch centers (PSAPs) for HSEMD.
These backup connections ensure that if a physical fiber line is accidentally cut or damaged during a disaster, dispatchers can still receive 911 calls without interruption.
The ICN’s quick support kept local tornado sirens online when a major connection was in jeopardy.
The Radio Services Section of the Des Moines Police Department (DMPD) reached out to the ICN in early October. They had just learned that their private telecom provider was going to disconnect two critical data circuits (known as T1 lines) on November 1.
Worried about keeping their emergency sirens active, the DMPD asked the ICN for help. Even though the ICN did not originally supply those lines, we stepped in immediately. Thanks to our strong partnership with the City of Des Moines, we helped keep these life-saving warning systems running.
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.
