Copyright International Business Times
For Amanda Borrett, infrastructure represents a way to foster connection. With extensive experience in the broadband industry, she has cultivated a career shaped by the belief that connectivity can open doors of opportunity. As Vice President of Business Development at eX2 Technology, a Vivacity Company, she contributes to efforts that help communities turn technical goals into enduring, community-focused assets. Borrett's approach blends professional experience with personal reflection. Leading a team focused on designing, building, maintaining, and commercializing fiber networks across the United States, she collaborates with the private sector, infrastructure investors, municipalities, and operators to help translate long-term fiber strategies into scalable deployments. Her work continues beyond construction, encompassing operations, maintenance, commercialization, and digital literacy to support lasting community benefit. For nearly two decades, Borrett has contributed to projects ranging from middle-mile to fiber-to-the-home deployments, as well as data center developments, aiming to extend connectivity to areas with limited access. With experience in both public and private sectors, she offers a combination of strategic insight and operational understanding. Her work frequently involves helping align funding models and partnerships with local priorities. Viewing each project as a collaborative effort, Borrett helps clients navigate the complexities of grants, funding strategies, and public-private partnerships. "Many municipal leaders and community institutions are interested in owning local network assets," she says. "Sometimes, the path forward may not be immediately clear." Her role involves helping clarify that path, aligning public goals with private investment to support networks that are resilient and community-oriented. She says, "Digital infrastructure serves as an economic equalizer, providing the same digital opportunities to everyone regardless of their socioeconomic status." A personal experience added new depth to Borrett's professional journey. After the passing of her daughter, Liliana, affectionately called Lily, she found herself reflecting on the broader meaning of her work. Lily had occasionally joined her at meetings and events, bringing a joyful energy to those around her. In the quiet that followed, Borrett began to see a connection between her daughter's guiding light and the networks she helped develop. "Fiber optic networks, at their core, are conduits of light," she says. "This light can connect communities, support learning, encourage growth, and strengthen essential systems. For me, that light now carries something more: Lily's light." Honoring her memory, Borrett and her family created a song called Lily's Light. Borrett has embraced a guiding philosophy that each fiber strand and illuminated path can carry forward a sense of warmth and connection. "My work focuses on building networks that are technically sound, financially thoughtful, and meaningful. It's all about creating systems that reflect human values alongside data," she states. Borrett also emphasizes long-term stewardship. She encourages planning for asset management and exploring revenue models that support sustainability. By helping communities maintain fiber and tower assets over time, she contributes to efforts that promote economic vitality and digital inclusion. "My colleagues usually describe me as someone who can speak fluently about technical documentation and engineering while also engaging effectively with community stakeholders and leadership teams," Borrett says. That ability, combined with her background in public relations and marketing communications, allows her to connect ideas across technical, financial, and civic domains. Ultimately, at the heart of Borrett's work is a sense of purpose. Her daughter's memory continues to inspire her, shaping each project into a reflection of resilience and renewal. Through broadband expansion, she sees opportunities to support remote learning, telehealth, entrepreneurship, and digital participation. Borrett says, "Lily reminds me that the work I do spreads warmth and opportunity beyond a single moment. I believe each connection I build is a way of passing that light forward."
