Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reported on the EMA’s Facebook page, Thursday, that the County took another step toward integration onto the statewide ISICS radio platform. ISICS (Pronounced “Eye-six”) is the Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System. Kennon said Thursday, two new local talk groups were brought on line, which will allow Local Law and Fire to converse with Cass County dispatch. He posted audio of a test dispatch using the new system….

During the Cass County Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 31st, Kennon said ISICS is a 700 (or 800) mega-hertz, standards-based P-25 Phase 2 compliant trunked radio system for first responders throughout Iowa. The ISICS platform allows users to seamlessly roam and communicate throughout the State. The Iowa State Patrol is currently using the 700 mhz band, while Pottawattamie County has been using the 800 mhz band for several years.

During the meeting, Kennon said two radios on the ISICS 700 mhz frequency, were installed at the Cass County Communications Center. He said there will be a law enforcement talk group and a fire talk group, which will allow those emergency personnel who were issued the radios. The system as it is now, will allow the County to see what coverage the radios will provide, and where the strength and weaknesses are.

The test conducted Thursday, is part of that process. Kennon said in December, Cass County is in the process of buying additional dual-band radios (VHF/700 mhz). Kennon said if the State Patrol has something going on, such as a pursuit, Cass County can switch on the 700 mhz system and work with them. Right now though, the County has mainly starting dipping its toes into the system, which allows the dispatchers to monitor State Patrol communications traffic.