ICN News

The opening session of the ICN In Toto 2008 conference included a special proclamation from Governor Chet Culver’s Office. A member of the governor’s staff, Lauren Burt, presented the proclamation to ICN Executive Director John Gillispie, which read:

WHEREAS, IN 1989 THE GOVERNOR OF IOWA SIGNED A BILL PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STATEWIDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK; AND

WHEREAS, IN THE FALL OF 1993, THE FIRST 104 VIDEO CLASSROOMS BECAME OPERATIONAL VIA THE NEW IOWA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK; AND

WHEREAS, IN SEPTEMBER 1995, THE FIRST HIGH SCHOOL ICN VIDEO CLASSROOM BECAME OPERATIONAL AT BATTLE CREEK-IDA GROVE HIGH SCHOOL; AND

WHEREAS, THE ORIGINAL NETWORK DESIGN PLANNED FOR 500 CLASSROOMS AND THE CURRENT NUMBER OF ICN VIDEO CLASSROOMS IS CURRENTLY AT 750; AND

WHEREAS, EACH YEAR, OVER 50,000 K-12 STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES VIA THE ICN, INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL, ADVANCED PLACEMENT, COLLEGE, AND DUAL CREDITS, CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS, AND MANDATORY TRAINING; AND

WHEREAS, STATE AGENCIES HAVE REPORTED A COMBINED AVERAGE SAVINGS OF $13 MILLION EACH YEAR OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS USING THE ICN; AND

WHEREAS, THE ICN IS AN IMPORTANT VEHICLE IN THE SECURITY OF THE STATE, INCLUDING ACCESS TO DAY-TO-DAY AND READINESS TRAINING FOR THOUSANDS OF IOWA NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS; AND

WHEREAS, IOWANS IN RURAL AREAS ACROSS THE STATE BENEFIT FROM CONVENIENT, SPECIALIZED TELEMEDICINE CARE OVER THE ICN, WITHOUT TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES TO HOSPITALS; AND

WHEREAS, THE USE OF THE ICN FOR TELEJUSTICE PROCEEDINGS ALLOWS STATE AND FEDERAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS TO SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY, FAMILIES TO WATCH THE PROCEEDINGS, AND PROVIDES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR EMPLOYEES; AND

WHEREAS, ICN IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF EDUCATION, HEALTH, JUSTICE, AND WELFARE FOR ALL IOWANS:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHESTER J. CULVER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF IOWA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 25, 2008, AS