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Monthly Newsletter
Iowa Communications Network
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ICN News and Updates
The ICN has upgraded its wireless backup system at the Iowa National Guard’s Joint Forces Headquarters (JFHQ) to ensure critical 911 dispatch services remain uninterrupted during emergencies.
The ICN team replaced an aging indoor Cradlepoint cellular device with a new outdoor model. The upgrade has boosted signal quality nearly tenfold, securing the critical infrastructure for public safety communications.
The new outdoor cellular device sits directly on the roof. It uses a digital ethernet cable to send data downstairs, eliminating signal loss and providing an unblocked connection to the cellular towers.
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Latest ICN Headlines
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Honoring One of Our Own: Connor Kuehl
We recently had the privilege of honoring ICN leadership team member Connor Kuehl for his incredible selflessness. Following the tragic loss of Chief Warrant Officer Robert M. Marzan during Operation Epic Fury, Connor spearheaded a massive grassroots effort to secure funding and donations so that members of the Des Moines-based 103rd Sustainment Command could fly to California for the funeral.
To show our appreciation, employees reached out to state and federal leaders, who generously flooded Connor with letters of honor. The highlight of the day was a surprise, in-person visit from members of the 103rd to thank him for helping them navigate their grief. We are incredibly proud to have leaders like Connor at the ICN.
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A Busy Spring and Early Summer of Learning
It's been an action-packed few months for our Peer-to-Career network cabling students at the Ottumwa Job Corps. Through virtual sessions with leading industry professionals, students connected directly with experts shaping Iowa’s digital landscape, gaining invaluable real-world insights.
Read about the industry experts our students recently learned from:
- April: South Slope Cooperative
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May: Harlan Municipal Utilities
- June: Iowa Communications Network
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As Fiscal Year 2026 comes to a close, ICN looks back on a transformative year focused on bandwidth upgrades, critical infrastructure modernization, and a transition away from legacy systems.
From expanding out-of-state 100Gb paths to tearing down decades-old voice equipment, ICN has solidified its role as Iowa’s critical broadband and telecommunications backbone. Here are the major highlights that shaped Fiscal Year 2026.
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- Massive Bandwidth Expansion & Regional Connectivity
- Infrastructure Modernization & Redundancy
- The End of an Era: Finalizing Legacy Migrations
- Security & Network Reliability
As the digital backbone of our state, the ICN is growing and changing. We spent the last year looking closely at how we operate, checking our systems, and setting a solid baseline. Now, our plans mark a clear shift from planning to action.
We are moving away from manual tracking and old spreadsheets. Instead, we are stepping fully into our role as Iowa’s premier, modern technology partner, handling the complex behind-the-scenes work so our customers can focus on their core goals.
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ICN's Goals for the Coming Year
- Maximizing Our Resources
- Smarter Growth
- Becoming Iowa’s True Technology Partner
- Modernizing Our Tools
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Social Media Highlights
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 What is Dark Fiber?
Sounds like a sci-fi villain, but dark fiber is simply underground fiber-optic cable that has been laid and isn't being used yet. Because no data-carrying light pulses are running through it, it's completely "unlit."
Digging up roads to lay cable is incredibly expensive. Networks like the ICN future-proof our infrastructure by burying extra lines from the very start. This unused fiber represents massive, untapped capacity, acting like a brand-new highway waiting to open up for commuters.
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 Happy 15th Workiversary, Jodi!
Join us in celebrating her 15-year career with the State of Iowa! As our State Operator/Administrative Assistant II, Jodi manages incoming state calls, handles essential administrative tasks, and tackles new leadership projects daily.
Congratulations on 15 wonderful years of State service.
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Latest Industry & Broadband News |
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Advanced tech coming to Cedar Rapids police
Cedar Rapids police gained approval from the City Council on Tuesday for upgraded technology that will be used in a potential operations center that police say will make the department more efficient and improve service to the community.
Source: The Gazette
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Telecom and Security News
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ICN's News and Updates Bulletin is your monthly source for everything happening with Iowa's critical infrastructure. Subscribe here to get it delivered directly to your inbox and catch up on key infrastructure projects, new services and customer stories, and telecom and security updates.
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