ICN Completes 75th Install for Public Safety Backup Connections

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"Emergency 911" written on the back of an emergency vehicle

ICN continues to grow the public safety network across Iowa by connecting 75 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) with a backup FirstNet connection. 

Since 2021, ICN has deployed FirstNet LTE connections to Iowa-based PSAPs for the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD). ICN started with 24 PSAP connections, and now that number has grown quickly to 75. 

β€œWe are proud to say we have 75 PSAPs on board using FirstNet as their backup, should they lose their primary connection. When you consider that there are 111 PSAPs spread across 99 counties, that is sort of a big deal, especially when this is a voluntary program,” said Patrick Kazeze, ICN’s Facilities and Technical Assistance Center (TAC) Bureau Manager.

For PSAPs in Iowa, the ICN is their primary network provider. In the event that the primary 9-1-1 traffic route fails for any of these 75 PSAPs, their connections will switch to the FirstNet network, enabling redundant routers to wirelessly connect back to the PSAPs.

"Our partnership with the ICN and FirstNet has become an integral part of the 9-1-1 Network in Iowa,” said Blake DeRouchey, 911 Program Manager, HSEMD. β€œ9-1-1 is depended on every day, and our partnership with ICN and FirstNet ensures reliability even on bad days. The installation of FirstNet at 75, 9-1-1 answering points in Iowa is a huge achievement and great leap in reliability from just a couple of years ago,” added DeRouchey.

Regarding the equipment, ICN installs CradlePoint modems and routers, which allows the PSAPs to transport critical information and ensures that data is encrypted end-to-end.  Marking this milestone, ICN is deploying new CradlePoint modems, which are replacing previous aging models. β€œThe new models come 5G ready and are set to significantly increase uploading and download speeds,” said Kazeze.

Each PSAP site deployment has a unique setup prior to the device being installed, which is planned well in advance. It starts with a pre-install site survey, reviewing cell tower and maps, along with coordination with FirstNet and AT&T.  Factors considered are bi-directional amplifiers, boosters, and signal quality. Often, the PSAPs can be in a rural town with no cell towers nearby, or surrounded by tall buildings, or perhaps the building is at the bottom of a ravine or valley with no direct line of sight to the cell tower.

The ICN is made up of approximately 3,400 miles of owned fiber optics reaching all 99 counties statewide, with leased connections making up the remaining miles of the network. Deploying a wireless backup service using FirstNet moves the ICN forward in the wireless arena, and gives our public safety users’ peace of mind that the system is resilient and redundant.