Emily Bamforth

Cisco opened a Rural Broadband Innovation Center in North Carolina, which the company said will show off technologies designed for cost-effective broadband expansion. The center, located in Morrisville, a Raleigh suburb, is part of Cisco’s push to address the digital divide. Small, rural providers will play a key role in ensuring equitable broadband access, so they need access to the latest solutions and information on how to implement them, CEO Chuck Robbins said.

Cuyahoga County (OH) is seeking more partnerships and projects to help close the digital divide, planning for a long-term solution to lack of internet access in the county. The county issued a “request for information,” which is due by Jan. 15.