Is DC really the #2 tech center in the U.S.?

The Cox Newspapers blog Plugged In reports on a press release from the American Electronics Association about technology-based employment in the U.S., in "Biggest tech cities? Surprise." The list:

Top “Cybercities” - based on total tech employment

1. New York
2. Washington, D.C.
3. San Jose/Silicon Valley
4. Boston
5. Dallas-Fort Worth
6. Los Angeles
7. Chicago
8. Philadelphia
9. Seattle
10. Atlanta

My response:

This is all about what you are measuring. What is more interesting and important, i.e., tech workers involved in for profit business vs. government? tech workers creating products for sale vs. delivering services, # of businesses, size of business, growth of sector, # of new software and hardware businesses created, etc.

In terms of "building a local economy" the questions are broader and the need for more comprehensive data are deeper.

E.g., Richard Florida counts lawyers as creative. But lawyers specializing in assisting tech companies or startups are much different from lawyers who spend their time lobbying govt. for special privileges for established firms and industries, etc.

I will say that while doing errands involving a car, I have been listening to the radio, either WAMU (NPR), WPFW (Pacifica), or WCSP (or whatever the call letters are, from CSPAN).

The CSPAN radio station had a rebroadcast of a forum on Web technologies and the political campaigns. It was fascinating (made me feel old and out of touch too), talking about the three levels of use: for organizing; fundraising; and communicating. It's a lot more than merely top-down communications, but user generated content and network building.

A couple weeks ago, the DC Economic Partnership sponsored a session on DC as the "Knowledge Capital of the World," and there were some great presenters. I made a point about lawyers not producing much, and the one guy representing the software-services industry felt completely opposite from me.

He said his lawyer, who helps technology businesses and startups, is essential to his business. While I was thinking of the lawyers who lobby for government advantages for certain businesses and/or industries at the expense of others.

He made other good points about DC having some advantages as a location for technology firms, since many of the customers are based in the city, and that it's easier to service them from here, rather than traveling back and forth from places like Herndon.

At the session, Sally Kram, a lobbyist for the city's universities, suggested that we consider having a research park in the city. I thought that was interesting. Catholic University has a lot of land that is suitable for such a use. So does the Armed Forces Retirement Home. These locations are particularly close to Howard, CUA, and Trinity (Howard and CUA have Engineering Schools), and not too far from UDC, GWU, Georgetown and American University.

(Alternatively, there is the St. Elizabeths Hospital campus in SE or the Walter Reed Campus in Upper NW.)
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Anyway, I would say in terms of producing software and hardware, DC is not the #2 technology center in the United States. Maybe in terms of consuming technology and servicing the use of technology... but that is a different question, albeit great for the companies that sell services to large institutions like government agencies.