ICN Relocates 911 Dispatch Center with Zero Downtime

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State of Iowa highlighting Page County in the South West of the State

The Iowa Communications Network (ICN) successfully coordinated the relocation of the Page County Communications Center’s public safety answering point (PSAP). The critical 911 dispatch center transitioned from the basement of the Clarinda Police Department to the new Page County Law Enforcement Center in mid-July.

Thanks to thorough preparation and a robust backup strategy, 911 services remained fully operational throughout the transition, ensuring no interruption to public safety.

This move required over a year of planning, with ICN leading collaboration among internal teams and outside partners to ensure best practices were maintained and deadlines were met. To guarantee emergency communications remained online during the physical move, an onsite DRV (Disaster Recovery Vehicle) was deployed. During the move, Page County 911 calls were routed to the DRV, leveraging FirstNet’s wireless backup service to maintain continuous coverage.

Key ICN services for reliability and redundancy included:

  • Fiber Buildout: High-speed fiber was pulled into the new building, with the PSAP providing rack space for ICN equipment.
  • Broadband Redundancy: The facility is equipped with two internet connections to handle data traffic.
  • Cellular Backup: ICN’s inside cabling team installed a cellular backup system, utilizing conduit to run cable to the roof to support the hardware.
  • FirstNet Integration: ICN installed a new circuit for 911 shared services and established a backup redundancy connection.

The successful, zero-downtime relocation was a collaborative effort among the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Iowa Communications Network, the Page County Sheriff's Office, the Page County PSAP, FirstNet, Fiber Network Services (FNS), Zetron, RACOM, and others.

Following the move, testing confirmed that all primary and backup networks are functioning perfectly. All 911 emergency services are fully operational in their new facility, backed by the ICN’s secure, state-of-the-art critical infrastructure built to withstand emergencies and protect public safety.