Mountain Connect
This year’s conference brings together ISPs, hyperscalers, data center operators, utilities, investors, and policymakers to address this transition through four focused tracks:
- ISP Economics & Sustainability
- Networks, Operations & Compute Infrastructure
- Deployment, Workforce & Execution
- Policy, Security & Critical Infrastructure
TIA’s Melissa Newman speaking:
Securing the AI Data Center Boom
AI data centers are rapidly becoming critical state infrastructure, supporting economic growth, public services, and emerging AI applications. As demand accelerates, states face growing challenges related to security, supply‑chain risk, energy access, and operational resilience. This session examines how collaboration between state governments and equipment manufacturers can help address these risks without slowing innovation. This discussion will highlight how voluntary, industry‑driven standards and independent certification programs can support secure, reliable growth while addressing community concerns around energy use, sustainability, and speed‑to‑power. Attendees will explore practical policy approaches that align economic development goals with long‑term infrastructure resilience.
Key Takeaways:
- Collaboration beats prescription: State policymakers can better manage AI data center risks by partnering with manufacturers, operators, and standards organizations rather than relying on rigid mandates.
- Standards provide a neutral policy tool: Voluntary, globally recognized standards offer states a trusted way to encourage security, reliability, and sustainability while preserving flexibility and innovation.
- Colorado offers a roadmap for other states: By leveraging standards, incentives, and energy policy alignment, Colorado demonstrates how states can balance rapid data center growth with community and infrastructure priorities.
Speakers:
- Melissa Newman, SVP Government Affairs, TIA
- Brandy Reitter, Executive Director of the Colorado Broadband Office