Public-Private Partnerships

The Iowa Communications Network (ICN) operates as a premier state-administered fiber optic network, leveraging strategic public-private partnerships (P3) to maximize Iowa's critical digital infrastructure. By combining the footprint of a state agency with the innovation of private-sector technology leaders, we deliver high-speed broadband, secure cloud collaboration, managed voice services, and redundant public safety communications to all 99 Iowa counties.

Discover how our collaborative network model drives economic growth, optimizes government operations, and cuts costs for state agencies, education providers, healthcare facilities, and public safety entities across the state.
 

Fiber Network Services (Managed Network Service)

Fiberutilities Group, an Iowa-based company, provides technical staff for the operation and maintenance of the Iowa Communications Network.

The managed network services include:

• Management systems
• On-site technicians to staff ICN’s Network Operations Center
• Field support staff located around the State

Granite (Enterprise Systems Connection)

ICN has partnered with Granite Telecommunications to deliver a reliable Ethernet/cellular option for elevators, fire alarm panels, and security systems.

Zoom (AI-powered Collaboration Platform)

Zoom’s cloud-based communication platform provides robust voice and communications solutions. ICN is a Zoom Reseller and has achieved Zoom sales and technical accreditations to provide knowledge and service solutions to our authorized users.

Lumen (Managed Voice Service)

Collaboration with Lumen (formerly CenturyLink) provides ICN users with a state-of-the-art telecommunications system, bundled with the additional voice efficiency and productivity enhancements of unified communications.

Aureon (Long Distance Voice & Network Migration)

ICN has partnered with Aureon to be the new provider for our long distance voice and telecommunications services. This crucial collaboration allows ICN to successfully migrate our legacy voice infrastructure and sunset the DMS switch. Through Aureon, we continue to provide authorized users with essential services, including direct lines (trunks), long-distance, PIC services, and toll-free 800 calling.

LightEdge Solutions (Data Center & Cloud Infrastructure)

LightEdge Solutions is an experienced and proven leader in data center, Enterprise IT cloud solutions, and network integration, providing businesses with reliable access to Fortune 100-level infrastructure that quickly adapts and scales to meet changing business requirements. LightEdge, which is owned by The Anschutz Corporation, was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa.

Leased Fiber Network (Part III Infrastructure Sites)

By statute, the Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission (ITTC) is required to lease connections to schools, libraries, AEA’s, judicial, correctional services connections, and connections to state agencies that are paid with state funding. A connection is the physical connection from the Network to ICN’s authorized user location.

The state funded $35.5 million in installation costs for the connections to school, library, and AEA (Part III) sites as well as paying a monthly lease cost.

When Network construction plans were first implemented to connect K-12 schools, libraries, AEAs and state agencies, the legislature wanted the private telecommunications providers to have an opportunity to serve their local areas. Companies winning the leasing bids for schools, libraries and AEAs were also provided with funds to construct the required infrastructure.

ICN partners with the following private sector telecommunications companies to provided Part III leased connections. In total there are 263 part III sites leased in partnership with private sector vendors.

• Uniti Fiber, Windstream
• Adesta, G4S Technology LLC
• Mediacom
• Regulated Companies
• Independent Telecommunications Companies
• Municipal Utilities
• Others

Regents (Emergency Failover Network)

Iowa State University, University of Iowa, and ICN provide emergency network failover for each other to geo-diverse national internet exchanges.

City of Des Moines & Polk County (Facility & Fiber Sharing)

Shared fiber resources with the City of Des Moines and Polk County. This cooperative sharing of facilities supports critical Continuity of Operations & Continuity of Government (COOP/COG) mandates during emergencies.

Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management (NextGen 911 Transport)

ICN partners deeply with HSEMD to manage and safeguard Iowa's critical public safety communications infrastructure:

• Provide essential technical expertise to the State 911 Program Manager.
• Operate the secure transport and delivery network for all statewide 911 emergency calls.
• Provide necessary network upgrades to support Next Generation 911 (NG911) advancements, including SIP and video emergency calls.
• Design and install FirstNet failover capabilities to ensure emergency 911 traffic is never interrupted.

Department of Transportation (Intelligent Traffic Systems)

ICN and the Iowa DOT actively share fiber infrastructure, network equipment, facilities, and databases. These shared services support intelligent traffic routing systems and form a core part of the ongoing modernization of Iowa infrastructure for autonomous vehicles. 

Iowa State University (ARA Wireless Living Lab for Rural Broadband)

ICN has provided Iowa State University with expertise consultation, engineering, fiber connectivity, and ongoing support to build a network that is being used to provide powerful wireless broadband coverage for hundreds of square miles of rural areas in a 3-county test project. Read more about this project.