10 NIC State Partners Recognized in the 2006 Best of the Web Competition.

OLATHE, Kan. -- Ten government partners of eGovernment firm NIC (Nasdaq: EGOV) were recently recognized in the 2006 Best of the Web national competition for Web site excellence. Eight of this year's top 10 state honorees are eGovernment partners of NIC and were selected from a field of more than 200 public sector Web sites.

The 2006 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 tenth year, Best of the Web evaluates government Web sites based on their innovation, Web-based delivery of public services, efficiency, economy, and functionality.

Four NIC government partners finished in the top five, with Maine (www.Maine.gov) earning second place, Utah (www.Utah.gov) in third, Virginia (www.Virginia.gov) in fourth, and Arkansas (www.Arkansas.gov) in the fifth spot. Alabama (www.Alabama.gov), Indiana (www.IN.gov), Rhode Island (www.RI.gov), and Tennessee (www.Tennessee.gov) were also recognized as top ten states for delivering essential eGovernment portal services.

As part of the 2006 Best of the Web competition, NIC's partners also earned six Digital Government Achievement Awards in recognition of outstanding agency and department services that enhance how governments interact and transact business online with constituents.

Three NIC partners received honors in the government-to-business category:

* The Oklahoma State Treasurer's online trading service for government-issued T-Bills and T-Bonds (www.OK.gov/ostbid);

* The Montana Department of Environmental Quality's TankHelper interactive guide to underground tank storage rules (http://app.mt.gov/tank); and

* Rhode Island's Marine No Septic Discharge Online Compliance System.

Two NIC partners were recognized in the government-to-citizen category:

* The Utah Department of Motor Vehicles' On The Spot on-site vehicle registration renewal service (https://secure.utah.gov/spot); and

* The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles' Suite of Services (http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv).

One NIC partner was also singled out in the government-to-government category:

- The Arkansas State Agency IT Budget Planning System.

Representatives from the Center for Digital Government and officials from the 2005 Best of the Web-winning state and local governments in Delaware, Washington, D.C., and Hennepin County, Minnesota, served as judges for the 2006 Best of the Web contest.

"NIC builds eGovernment portals and online services that create efficiencies for government agencies as well as the citizens and businesses they serve," said Harry Herington, President of NIC. "Our government partners are most deserving of this recognition, and we congratulate all of this year's Best of the Web honorees."

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 2,200 state and local agencies that serve more than 60 million people in the United States. Additional information is available at www.nicusa.com.