About the Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System Board (ISICSB)

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About

Mission

Develop and provide the highest level of standardized interoperable public safety and public service communications in accordance with the Code of Iowa.

Vision

All public safety and public service entities in and around Iowa can access and utilize interoperable communications systems.

The Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System Board (ISICSB) was established in Iowa Code sections 80.28 and 80.29 under the joint purview of the State Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the State Department of Transportation (DOT) in 2007. ISICS now serves as the interoperability platform for the State of Iowa and its 3.19 million residents. ISICS is a two-zone 700/800 MHz Trunked P25 Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Phase II standard digital statewide radio platform providing 95% mobile coverage border to border (see map). The growth of ISICS users has been tremendous. At the time of the publishing of the ISICSB 2023 Annual Legislative Report, over 200 agencies and more than 34,000 radios utilize ISICS with almost 3 million push-to-talks, or radio transmissions, each month. ISICS users are in all levels of government and non-governmental organizations.

ISICSB works to meet its mission through its six committees, one subcommittee, and various working groups. The Board represents the landscape of Iowa's public safety/public service profession and all levels of government among its 19 voting members. This diverse representation ensures the System works for all to improve interoperability.

ISICS Board Members

Board Members
Member	Title	Agency	Committee(s)	Term End
Michele Bischof (Fire Department)	Superintendent of Technical Services	Des Moines Fire Department	ISICSB Chair Finance Committee Chair	April 30, 2027
Patrick Updike (Member-At-Large)	Call Sign NONHB	Amateur Radio	ISICSB Vice-Chair Technology Committee Chair	April 30, 2027
Mindy Benson (Emergency Management)	Coordinator	Black Hawk County Emergency Management	FirstNet Broadband Subcommittee Chair	April 30, 2026
Curtis Woten (Emergency Medical Services)	EMS	Blakesburg Fire Department	Training and Outreach Committee Chair	April 30, 2026
David Ness (Municipal Police)	Major	Des Moines Police Department	Governance	April 30, 2025
Haley Nichols (non-voting) (Iowa SWIC)	Statewide Interoperability Coordinator	Iowa Department of Public Safety / ISICSB
Luke Erpelding (Communications Center)	Regional Communications Manager	Iowa Department of Public Safety	Operations Committee Chair	April 30, 2027
Jeff Vandewater (Sheriff's Office)	Sheriff	Adair County Sheriff's Office	User Group Committee (UGC) Chair	April 30, 2025
LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS
Jesse Green	Senator	Boone		January 12, 2025
Todd E. Taylor	Senator	Cedar Rapids		January 12, 2025
Phil Thompson	Representative	Boone		January 12, 2025
Ross Wilburn	Representative	Ames		January 12, 2025