The Iowa Communications Network (ICN) has completed a campus-wide building safety initiative across the State of Iowa Capitol Complex in Des Moines. By mid-February, all 13 government buildings now feature redundant systems for elevators, emergency phones, and fire panels, bolstering the reliability of essential services for Iowans.
To deliver this infrastructure refresh, ICN partnered with Granite Telecommunications to install EPIK devices, creating connections for 81 critical building services that power the Capitol Complex’s elevators, emergency lines, and fire panels. The effort began in March 2025, following disruption to the elevators and fire panels at the State Historical Building.
The project replaces aging Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines with a modern, multi-path connection designed for resilience. Each building now benefits from a three-way reliability arrangement: a direct fiber internet link backed by two independent cellular networks, ensuring instant failover if any one path is impaired.
- Three-way reliability: Direct fiber plus two cellular providers for seamless backup.
- Power outage protection: A battery backup within each unit keeps emergency lines operational for up to 24 hours.
- Seamless integration: The new EPIK devices are designed to plug into existing equipment, eliminating costly replacements.
Officials describe the upgrade as a successful public-private partnership that modernizes a critical backbone of state government. By transitioning from fading technology to a robust, contemporary platform, the Capitol Complex gains a safer, more reliable operating environment for both visitors and state employees.
ICN notes that this modernization will help ensure essential services remain available during outages and routine use, signaling a continued commitment to resilient, mission-critical infrastructure in Iowa.
