NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release
	Contact: Chris Neff 435-645-8898 cneff@nicusa.com

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OLATHE, Kan. – October 20, 2004 – Big things do come in small packages, especially in the world of electronic government. Maine (www.Maine.gov) was recently ranked first among states in the 2004 Best of the Web national competition for government Web site excellence, marking the fifth consecutive year Maine has been ranked among the top four finishers. eGovernment firm NIC (Nasdaq: EGOV) manages Maine's Web portal on behalf of the state.

Seven of this year's top ten state honorees are eGovernment partners of NIC, and a total of 14 state and local partners were singled out from a field of more than 300 public sector Web sites.

The 2004 Best of the Web competition was conducted by the Center for Digital Government, an international research and advisory institute on the use of information technology in government. Now in its ninth year, Best of the Web evaluates government Web sites based on their innovation, Web-based delivery of public services, efficiency, economy, and functionality.

"Maine's success in winning this year's Best of the Web rankings reflects the state's true commitment to serving its citizens, businesses, and visitors," said Cathilea Robinett, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government. "Maine's commitment to its constituents through the delivery of services that are robust, accessible, and easy to navigate are exemplified in the Maine.gov portal."

For the second consecutive year, NIC's government partners swept the top three spots for state Web sites, with Indiana (www.IN.gov) earning second place and Virginia (www.Virginia.gov) placing third. Four NIC partners were also recognized as top ten states: Nebraska (www.Nebraska.gov), Kentucky (www.Kentucky.gov), Tennessee (www.Tennessee.gov), and Alabama (www.Alabama.gov).

Launched in August 1999, Maine's eGovernment portal receives approximately one million page hits per month and processed nearly nine million online transactions last year. Maine.gov features more than 300 interactive services that help constituents interact more efficiently with government, including Uniform Commercial Code searches and filings, vehicle registration and driver's license renewals, public criminal history record searches, the Business Answers online business start up assistant, and a Sportsmen Suite of more than 50 hunting and fishing license services.

"Maine.gov provides an essential service to Maine citizens, businesses and visitors," said Governor John Baldacci. "The site makes state government more accessible and efficient. We seek to continually improve the portal by offering the best quality source of information to the public."

As part of the 2004 Best of the Web competition, NIC's partners also earned seven Digital Government Achievement Awards in recognition of outstanding agency and department services that enhance how governments interact with and transact business online with constituents.

Five NIC partners received honors in the government-to-business category, with Utah's business portal (www.Utah.gov/business) placing second and Maine's Secretary of State services (www.SOSonline.org) earning a fifth place nod. Idaho's trucking portal (trucking.idaho.gov), Kansas's online Uniform Commercial Code services (www.accesskansas.org/eucc/), and a well drilling application from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (www.owrb.state.ok.us/supply/wd/drillers.php) were also finalists in the category.

Rhode Island's eGovernment Information Exchange Portal (www.ri.gov/rex) received a fourth place ranking in the government-to-government category, and Tampa's customer service center (www.tampagov.net/appl_customer_service_center) was a finalist in the government-to-citizen category.

Representatives from the Center for Digital Government and officials from the 2003 Best of the Web-winning state and local governments in Utah, Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland, served as judges for the 2004 Best of the Web contest.

"NIC builds eGovernment portals that help citizens, businesses, and government agencies communicate more effectively," said Harry Herington, Chief Operating Officer of NIC. "Our government partners are very deserving of this recognition, and we congratulate all of the Best of the Web honorees."

The 2004 Best of the Web awards will be presented this Thursday in New York.

About NIC
NIC manages more eGovernment services than any provider in the world. The company helps government communicate more effectively with citizens and businesses by putting essential services online. NIC provides eGovernment solutions for 1,500 state and local agencies that serve more than 51 million people in the United States. Additional information is available at www.nicusa.com.

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