ISICS Board Meeting - July 13, 2017 | Notes & Information
ISICS July 13, 2017 Board Meeting - Video
Watch the portion of the LMR update below
The Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System Board (ISICSB) provided an update on the system and went further into the potential use of an ISSI gateway link between the ISICS system and other LMR systems around the state.
An ISSI gateway would serve functionally to connect alternative LMR systems with the ISICS system. Chris Meier, the Iowa Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) provided more information on his recommendation to implement an ISSI. His report is outlined below:
- The only instance when the ISSI worked well was when the vendor on each side was the same, otherwise, there were considerable man hours and resources to keep things going.
- Because national standards on ISSI are still pretty loose, it’s too tough to ascertain and predict universal rules that govern the ISSI and the two competing systems it’s trying to connect. Also, tying two systems together that are in different standards (TDMA vs FDMA) is a difficult operation and not necessarily proven to be effective.
- If there were tighter standards governing ISSI gateways throughout the country, it would be more viable to consider an ISSI. As it is, there is no committee dedicated to developing further standards and the state does not want to adopt a system where the technology will soon become obsolete.
- The SWIC has spoken with a representative from Oregon that is looking at trying an ISSI – estimated cost is $7 million and then an additional $3 million in personnel and backhaul to get things hooked together. This doesn’t factor in the ongoing costs like maintenance, backhaul, other support to keep it running.
- Conclusion: Not recommended to use an ISSI when 1) the technology isn’t proven 2) national standards aren’t established nor are they being created/further developed 3) the cost is too high to use on a technology that might not function correctly
ISICS Motorola System Construction Update
- The system is 65 percent completed
- 48 sites active in some form of construction or finished, 24 are ready to be reviewed by state
- Woodbury Co. has completed integration
- Dallas Co. has transitioned law operations to ISICS
- Microwave Dish installations continue
- Working on locking DNR sites, one more to go on DOT sites
- 2 sites rejected by local boards (one in Story Co.) and the state had to move tower locations and restart regulatory process
- Working on locking down leased sites (looking at 4 total sites out of 90 sites)
New ISICS Radio Sites
Tower work is being performed in the following counties (* new steel in the air):
- Region 1: Boone, Carroll, Dallas, Hamilton, Jasper, Polk, Poweshiek, Warren, Webster
- Region 2: Allamakee, Fayette, Franklin, Howard
- Region 3: Buena Vista, Crawford, O'Brien, Woodbury
- Region 4: Adams, Cass, Decatur, Fremont, Guthrie, Harrison, Madison, Mills, Pottawattamie, Ringgold
- Region 5: Appanoose, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Lucas, Monroe
- Region 6: Benton, Black Hawk, Buchanan, Clayton, Dubuque, Iowa, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Linn, Scott
Joining ISICS – Application Process
There’s a new way to apply to ISICS via the website portal to make things more streamlined. The online application portal will make file an electronic paper trail and also have a virtual work flow representation of where the user is in the application process.
To view the portal, click here. To start the application process, click the icon “Join.”
New ISICS Users
Northern Warren Fire Department’s application to join ISICS was approved
FirstNet
The ISICSB formally recommended to Governor Reynolds to “opt-in” to the FirstNet program as provided to them.
* Governor Kim Reynolds announced her decision to accept the FirstNet and AT&T plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the State's public safety community. This will make Iowa one of the first states in the country to "opt in" to FirstNet and bring advanced technologies that will help first responders save lives and protect communities. Full Press Release
