"The Iowa Communications Network: The Policy Implications of Publicly
Funded Infrastructure."

Dom Caristi
Iowa State University

The Iowa Communications Network is a statewide fiber backbone, designed
primarily for distance education, but which more than 80 percent of the
traffic is something other than distance ed. The network also handles long
distance telephone traffic for state government, and administrative
meetings are conducted using the network's two-way full-motion video
capabilities. State law prohibits use by private parties, but some private
users have been able to have access by partnering with educational
institutions. Those institutions can reserve use of the network without
justifying the purpose or explaining the nature of the use.

As one might expect, Iowa private telephone companies are extremely
frustrated with the situation. Some estimates are that the state has
invested a half-billion dollars in the system. Telcos contend that not only
does the system rob them of revenues, but they contend that it takes
potential customers away by allowing Internet access to people who are not
directly connected to the ICN. Students and faculty at state universities
and community colleges have had dial-up access for quite some time, and it
has begun spreading to elementary and secondary schools. Earlier this year
the governor vetoed a bill which would have prevented dial-up Internet
access over the ICN.