When a data center project comes to town, a question often asked by residents and local officials is “what’s in it for us?” What if there was a guide that could help local officials understand the upside of how digital services can transform their work and their community?

Today we continue our series on data centers and community controversies. Our guest is Ilissa Miller, the CEO of iMiller Public Relations, who has deep experience communicating the benefits of digital infrastructure. Iliisa has also held local office in her community, a role that informs her current work with the OIX Digital Infrastructure Framework, which provides guidance for community planners and economic development officials.

The goal is to empower community leaders to understand the infrastructure they have, what they need, and how to plan for what’s coming. Ilissa has also has insights into the current challenges for data centers in community relations.

Here's an overview of the conversation between host RIch Miller and Ilissa Miller of iMiller PR:

00:00 - A Framework for Better Community Conversations

02:20 - From Opera to Digital Infrastructure: Ilissa Miller's Data Center Journey

05:20 - iMiller PR and its Mission and Services

07:40 - The History of Data Centers and Secrecy

13:50 - How to Improve the Media Narrative

17:30 - Introducing the Digital Infrastructure Framework

21:00 - Digital Infrastructure as a Tool for Master Planning

22:00 - Getting the Word Out

24:30 -Helping Communities Understand the Benefits of Digital Services

26:40 - Where to Learn More

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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

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LINKS FROM THIS SHOW:

The OIX Digital Infrastructure Framework
https://www.oix.org/standards-and-certifications/oix-dif-standard/

iMiller Public Relations 
https://www.imillerpr.com/

Follow Ilissa Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilissamiller/

Follow Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:
Data Centers and Community Controversies
https://youtu.be/syRpAj9aCSg?si=aYveuysL-DGCfC5O