Rural areas have struggled for years with slow or unreliable internet access. Some have not had access to the internet at all. This is especially true for the 18 million Americans living in rural areas without access to a broadband network. This lack of access continues to present barriers to economic opportunity. Connecting the unconnected remains a challenge in equality, laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a global technology company, Cisco is committed to relentless innovation and thorough collaboration to power an inclusive future where everyone can securely access the economic, educational, and health opportunities they need.
