Building Bridges with Light: Amanda Borrett's Mission

Amanda Borrett sees infrastructure as a tool to bring people together. She has spent nearly 20 years in the broadband industry, working to make sure everyone has access to the internet. As the Vice President of Business Development at eX2 Technology, she helps communities turn their tech ideas into reality. Borrett leads a team that designs and builds fiber networks all over the United States. She works with different groups, like private companies, local governments, and investors, to make sure these networks are built in a way that benefits everyone. Her job doesn't stop at construction; she also helps with running, maintaining, and promoting these networks. One of the big challenges in her work is figuring out how to pay for these projects. She helps communities understand how to use grants and public-private partnerships to fund their networks. She believes that digital infrastructure is important because it gives everyone the same opportunities, no matter their background. Borrett's work has a personal meaning for her. After losing her daughter, Lily, she found a new purpose in her job. She sees the fiber optic networks she builds as a way to carry forward her daughter's light. This idea inspires her to create networks that are not just technically sound, but also meaningful and community-focused. She also emphasizes the importance of long-term planning. She helps communities think about how to maintain and manage these networks over time. This way, the networks can continue to support economic growth and digital inclusion. Borrett's unique background in public relations and marketing communications allows her to connect with different groups. She can talk about technical details with engineers and also discuss the benefits of these networks with community leaders. At the heart of Borrett's work is a sense of purpose. She believes that each network she builds is a way to pass forward her daughter's light. Through broadband expansion, she sees opportunities to support education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.