 News & Updates
Pottawattamie County adds mobile command vehicle for public safety use.
The statewide, fiber optic network and a cellular connection give public safety personnel in Pottawattamie County the ability to connect on-the-go. ICN recently connected Pottawattamie County’s primary dispatch center and their backup mobile command vehicle, making this the newest public safety connection using the ICN.
Pottawattamie County established two distinct connections, initiating one for their primary public safety answering point (PSAP) in September 2024, followed by the activation of a connection for their mobile vehicle a few weeks later. Since its activation in October, the mobile command vehicle has not yet been deployed for any actual incidents in Pottawattamie County. However, officials are enthusiastic about the flexibility that this unit offers.
Read about the public safety connections.⬇️
Upgrades to the heating and cooling system have been completed at one of the main ICN Network hubs, which is located at Joint Forces Headquarters (JFHQ). This Johnston facility supports the ICN Network across the State, facilitating broadband and other services for customers, including connectivity for 911 services, the Iowa Rural Health Telecommunications Program (IRHTP) healthcare network, and connectivity for education and government facilities.
The HVAC upgrades consisted of electrical work, installing the replacement of four outdoor chiller units, along with upgrading pipes, pumps, and Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) units, which distribute the cooling throughout the building. Installing the CRAC units was quite an undertaking. The black CRAC units were too large for the freight elevator, so a ramp was constructed in the Iowa National Guard’s enhanced classroom to move the large equipment pieces to the basement. The CRAC units will regulate the temperature, air distribution, and humidity in the room, allowing for better airflow and preventing low humidity conditions.
Read about the upgrades that occurred. ⬇️
2024 Year in Review!
Let's take a look back at some of the exciting stories and projects that came from the field this past year. These stories are a snapshot of the many projects and activities that occur each day explaining the value of the Network.
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We are excited to help introduce the 2025 Presidential Primary Sources Project (PPSP) program series and encourage Iowa K-12 schools and libraries to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.
➡️ It’s easy to sign up for this free service, which is a partnership between Internet2, the National Park Service, and the National Archives.
➡️ These sites present a series of free 45-60 minute interactive videoconferencing programs aimed at students in grades 4-12.
The series will run from January through April 2025. Free registration is now open, so feel free to visit the project web page for more information and to sign up today!
Iowa Communications Network (ICN) is Iowa’s only authorized Research & Education Network giving our education customers exclusive access to Internet2 services.
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Free Broadband Toolkit Available to Libraries
❗ Free Resource Available: To help libraries understand and improve their IT and broadband, Internet2 has put together a free toolkit, which is available to download.
This Toward Gigabit Libraries toolkit is designed for small, rural, Tribal, and urban libraries with limited information technology (IT) support.
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