U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development and Private Sector Join to Provide Internet Services to Section 8 and Public Housing Residents.

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2002

Worldwide Communications (WCG) and The New Internet Computer

Company to Serve Tens of Thousands of Low-Income Residents in 2002

The New Internet Computer Company (NIC) announced today its participation in a landmark program developed and administered by Worldwide Communication Group (WCG), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The program's mission is to assist low-to-moderate income residents of public housing to connect to the power of the Internet.

The NIC Company expects to ship at least 10,000 NIC Network Access Machines(TM) by the end of 2002 to public housing residents, with more shipments to follow in 2003.

The program, called The Community Technology Network Project (CTNP), is already underway, and will provide one million e-mail addresses and offer New Internet Computers (NICs) -- including dial-up Internet access, provided by ATX Communications -- to Section 8 and Public Housing residents. In addition, two hundred thousand qualified low-to-moderate income residents who already own computers will receive dial-up Internet access through the program. The program also provides similar financial and technological benefits to the general public.

"The government and private sectors are now fully engaged to bring the power of the Internet to these individuals," says Peter Clark, CEO of the New Internet Computer Company. "We are proud that the NIC Internet computer has been chosen to be part of this visionary solution."

Other participating corporations include ATX Communications (aka CoreComm Ltd), Western Union Corporation, HP, Family Information Systems and Virtual Money.

"To be a part of this program is very exciting," says Ken Lambert, NIC's President. "It validates NIC's original mission to provide an affordable yet reliable way for people to bridge the digital divide. Now, millions of public housing residents will be able to up-level the quality of their lives by having access to the opportunities available from the Internet. This is exactly what NIC is about."

CTNP was launched in August 2002 in Indiana and is already underway in Ohio and Michigan. Through 2002 and 2003, CTNP will expand quickly through the nation's public housing authorities and project-based Section 8 multi-family developments.

The goals of the Community Technology Network Project are three-fold: 1) To connect, in one sweeping initial effort, a large segment of the underserved population to allow residents to become independent, employed and contributing members of their communities, 2) To provide an efficient means for residents to communicate with the multiple government agencies that are important to their lives (Food Stamp, Welfare and Medicaid Programs), and 3) To convert the complicated Section 8 annual application process from the patchwork of hundreds of applications that it has been to an efficient, online standard, thereby cutting time and expense for all involved.

"This outstanding coalition of technology companies like the New Internet Computer Company proves that the private sector can design practical, affordable solutions for the good of underserved communities," says Louis Simpson, president/CEO, Worldwide Communications Group. "We look forward to witnessing the dramatic and positive impact this coalition will have on the lives of Section 8 and public housing residents."

The NIC Internet computer has been getting raves since its August 2000 release. It was named "the cheapest way to get on the net" by NBC's TODAY SHOW. The NEW YORK TIMES called it "more robust than a simplified Internet appliance." In the February 2001 issue of LINUX JOURNAL, the reviewer called NIC "the first, best and least expensive of the new breed of affordable Internet and network appliance computers. Viewed in the context of its design, this device is a bargain." And in May 2001, PC MAGAZINE gave the NIC "four out of five stars" for functionality and design.

ABOUT THE NIC COMPANY:

Founded in January 2000, the NEW INTERNET COMPUTER COMPANY and its NIC Internet Access Machine(TM) bring fast, affordable and functional Internet access to consumers, schools and businesses without the cost or complexity of a PC. The NIC offers plug-and-play email and Internet access. The NIC Company is located at 2465 East Bayshore Drive, Suite 400, Palo Alto, CA, 94303. Telephone [phone].

For more information about NIC, visit The NIC corporate website at www.thinknic.com.

For additional information regarding the CTNP program, visit www.ctnp.info or contact T'ere Webb [phone] x206.

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    CONTACT: The NIC Company
             Michael Salort
             212/319-3692 (office)
             646/245-3588 (cell)
             [e-mail]

    KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
    INDUSTRY KEYWORD: GOVERNMENT INTERNET COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS
MARKETING AGREEMENTS
    SOURCE: New Internet Computer