August Headlines from the ICN

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icn.iowa.gov

August 2024

News & Updates

ICN’s Peer to Career Marks Successful First Year

We are celebrating our first year of the Peer to Career program, which is a joint partnership with Ottumwa’s Job Corps’ Network Cable Installation program (NCI).

Designed to promote the awareness of the telecom industry, the trainees of the NCI program participate in online meetings every month to hear from a variety of industry experts, which highlight various parts of the industry, such as fiber optic cabling, outside plant work, network troubleshooting, facilities, datacenter cabling, and more.

Read our highlights from this first year.

Allamakee Schools Add Zoom

Allamakee CSD was the first customer to jump on board with the new partnership between ICN and Zoom. The district has an enrollment of 1,100 students and employs about 200 staff members. All school buildings are located in Waukon, Iowa, which has a population of 3,900.

The Zoom solution brought a reliable application which includes components of scheduling, digital signage, visitor management, virtual reception, workspace booking, and Zoom rooms.

Read the newest Customer Spotlight highlighting our Zoom service.

E-Rate News for K-12 Education & Library Customers

Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program

The Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program will provide up to $200 million to selected participants over a three-year term to purchase a wide variety of cybersecurity services and equipment.

Pilot Program participants will be eligible to seek reimbursement for a wide variety of cybersecurity services and equipment, subject to an overall cap. Eligible services and equipment include: Advanced/Next Generation Firewalls; Endpoint Protection; Identity Protection and Authentication; and Monitoring, Detection, and Response.

See a complete list of eligible services and equipment.

Internet2 News

Informational Webinar to Learn About the Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit

Join the Toward Gigabit Libraries (TGL) team as they debut the newly updated TGL toolkit.

Gain insights into the TGL Toolkit's new features, best practices, and strategies to maximize its benefits for your library's technology infrastructure.

Registration is required and space is limited. Secure your spot today!

Nov 18, 2024 (3-4 PM ET)

About The Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit

Using the TGL Toolkit and Broadband Improvement Plan (opens in a new window), librarians will be better equipped to improve their broadband services and become stronger advocates for their libraries’ broadband infrastructure needs.

The Network Minute

Every month we will highlight a network benefit to help Iowans gain a better understanding of the advantages offered by the statewide fiber optic Network.

Our Contracting Experience is Top-notch

We have Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and master contracts in place. Our experienced team follows the procurement rules of the State of Iowa. They have a lot of experience in negotiating and competitive bidding.

Highlights from Social Media

Peer to Career August Session

This month the trainees heard from
ICN's cabling team who gave a presentation covering a variety of topics like a typical day as a technician, showed tools they use, and also took the time to answer questions.

Protecting the 2024 Elections: Be Prepared for Anything (E160)

In FedInsider.com's latest FedsAtTheEdge podcast, state & business leaders discuss best practices to ensure the 2024 election's safety and accuracy.

News from the Industries We Serve

Telehealth use spikes with dementia patients during pandemic

FCC approves rules for service providers delivering NG911 emergency communications

FCC commissioners voted unanimously to approve an order designed to ease the transition to IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) technology by providing originating service providers with nationwide rules about their responsibilities and deadlines to deliver emergency calls to NG911 systems.

Source: Urgent Communications

Virtual reality will soon be a part of the Ankeny high school experience

Soon Ankeny high schoolers will be able to use VR headsets to explore different careers.

Source: We Are Iowa

How Can Schools Sign Up for Protective Domain Name Service (PDNS)?

Did you know that the Federal government-funded MS-ISAC, which offers PDNS to schools for no-cost? The MS-ISAC calls its PDNS service Malicious Domain Blocking and Reporting (MDBR).

Source: Center for Internet Security

Nonprofit Offers Free Cybersecurity Consulting to Public Sector

The nonprofit Center for Internet Security (CIS) has launched free cybersecurity advising services for under-resourced state, local, tribal and territorial organizations.

This initiative is open to any member of either the MS-ISAC or the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, both of which are free to join for relevant government entities.

Source: Government Technology

Latest Broadband & Security News

Federal Authorities Work to Boost Health-Care Cybersecurity, Government Technology

Who Knew? Domain Hijacking is so Easy, infoblox

Tips for Schools Applying for FCC Cybersecurity Pilot Funding, EdTech

Internet2's CLASS: Helping Researchers Move Forward with the Cloud, Campus Technology

NIST Participates in White House Summit on Standards for Critical and Emerging Technology, NIST

Widespread IT Outage Due to CrowdStrike Update, CISA

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