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Www.Idaho.Gov Ranked Second Best State Web Site in National Study

Posted on: Wednesday, 6 December 2006, 18:04 CST

The National Policy Research Council, in collaboration with Computerworld magazine, recently rated Idaho's official Web site (www.idaho.gov) as the second best state Web site in the country.

The National Policy Research Council, a Washington-based nonprofit think tank, assessed each state Web site based on 25 features in seven categories: usability, citizen responsiveness, accessibility for disabled visitors, information tools, online procurement, job opportunities, and the availability and functionality of interactive permits and payments.

"Providing citizens and businesses with convenient access to information and services is what responsive government should be doing," said Idaho Governor James E. Risch. "It is very gratifying to learn that we are not only doing that, but that we are also doing it exceedingly well."

According to Computerworld, the highest grades generally were awarded to Web sites that provide easy access to a wide range of services from their home pages, rather than buried several pages deep.

Launched in 2000, Idaho.gov has grown to include more than 60 online personal and professional services and is managed on behalf of the state by Idaho Information Consortium, a Boise-based subsidiary of eGovernment firm NIC (Nasdaq: EGOV).

"Thousands of citizens and businesses use the state portal 24/7 to obtain government information and services," said Pam Ahrens, Director of the Idaho Department of Administration. "They can file and pay taxes, renew professional licenses, register vehicles, check road conditions, and help protect their children by searching the Department of Correction offender database. Our Web portal is easy to navigate, our online services are well organized, and users can find the information they need quickly."

Online usage rates substantiate Ahrens' claim. The Idaho Transportation Department is on pace to handle more than 1 million Internet transactions in 2006, and the Idaho State Tax Commission has seen a 680 percent increase in online tax payments over the past five tax seasons. Fiscally, the state is poised to collect more than $80 million in revenue via its Web site this year.

The National Policy Research Council's comprehensive eGovernment report card was compiled by professional researchers and conducted without input from state government.

About Idaho.gov (a.k.a. Access Idaho)

Access Idaho is the state of Idaho's official Web portal (www.idaho.gov) and provider of electronic government solutions for the state. The network manager for the portal is Idaho Information Consortium, a Boise-based subsidiary of eGovernment firm NIC.

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.

Source: Business Wire

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