Raleigh Takes Top Honors on the Forbes.com Most Wired Cities List
North Carolina's Capital City Jumps From Number 15 in 2009

Raleigh, NC - Forbes.com, a leading online source for business and economic news, has named Raleigh as America's Most Wired City. The annual poll ranks cities on three main technological measures: broadband penetration, broadband access and plentiful wi?fi hotspots. Raleigh jumped from Number 15 in the 2009 rankings to Number 1 in 2010, upsetting Seattle, which fell to Number 3, for the top spot.

Raleigh placed first over traditionally perceived tech?savvy cities including: Atlanta (No. 2), Seattle (No. 3), San Francisco (No. 4) and Washington, DC (No. 5). The win, a surprise for many, showcases the area's technology, research and tech companies, many like IBM, Cisco and Lenovo are located in nearby Research Triangle Park. Also noted was the area's concentration of colleges and universities, as well as state government offices. The Raleigh area is home to seven colleges and universities and many, like NC State University, have a heavy focus on research and technology.

"This is a huge designation for our area and solidifies our reputation as a leader in offering cutting?edge technology to residents and visitors," said Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Many meetings and conventions have chosen the Raleigh area over other destinations based on the factors of broadband access and wi?fi availability."

Many organizations are looking at cities that can handle complex technology needs when choosing a meeting destination and facility, as well as what wired amenities can be offered to attendees to keep them connected to their daily lives. Downtown Raleigh meets this 24?7 need by offering free wi?fi in outdoor public spaces including City Plaza and in many areas of the Raleigh Convention Center. The International World Wide Web Conference will hold its annual conference at the Raleigh Convention Center, April 25? May 1, 2010, due in part to the area's history of being at the forefront for innovation
and technology.