As demand for digital infrastructure accelerates across the United States, communities are increasingly being asked to evaluate projects that carry long-term implications for power, land use and economic development. Many municipalities, however, lack the frameworks needed to assess these opportunities with confidence, creating a growing gap between industry momentum and community readiness.
This challenge will be a focal point at Connected America 2026, taking place April 14-15 in Dallas. Ilissa Miller, board member of the OIX Association and CEO of iMiller Public Relations, will participate in a fireside chat on April 14 titled “From Resistance to Readiness: Why Communities Need a Digital Infrastructure Framework,” alongside Peter Murray director at Dense Networks. The session will explore how communities, developers and policymakers can better align on infrastructure planning through practical frameworks and clearer communication.
As investment in data centers, fiber networks and AI infrastructure expands, municipalities are being asked to make decisions that will shape their regions for decades. These projects involve complex considerations related to energy, water, zoning and long-term economic impact. Without consistent benchmarks or shared frameworks, communities often approach each project independently, limiting their ability to evaluate tradeoffs and outcomes effectively.
Miller’s perspective is shaped by her work spearheading the Digital Infrastructure Framework Committee (DIFC) within the Open Infrastructure Exchange (OIX), which is focused on developing vendor-neutral guidance to support community-level planning. The initiative aims to establish a structured approach that enables municipalities to evaluate infrastructure projects more consistently while supporting collaboration among developers, investors and public sector stakeholders. By creating a common framework, the effort seeks to reduce uncertainty and improve the decision-making process.
The session will also address a broader industry narrative that frames communities as resistant to development. In many cases, hesitation stems from uncertainty rather than opposition. Communities are being asked to make high-stakes decisions without standardized tools or clear guidance. Providing structure and context can help shift that dynamic toward more informed engagement.
In parallel with her work at OIX, Miller developed the GroundswellTM methodology through iMPR to improve how infrastructure projects are introduced and communicated. The approach emphasizes transparency, early engagement and stakeholder alignment, helping build trust and support more effective planning outcomes.
Connected America brings together industry leaders, policymakers and technology providers to address the future of connectivity and infrastructure development across the country, with increasing focus on aligning growth with community readiness.
For more information about the OIX Association and the Digital Infrastructure Framework Committee, visit www.oix.org/standards-and-certifications/oix-dif-standard.
For more information about iMiller Public Relations and its services, visit www.imillerpr.com.
To learn more about upcoming events in the terrapinn portfolio, visit www.terrapinn.com/events.
