Improving broadband Internet availability and expanding access to online government services to rural areas is the catalyst for eGovernment leader NIC (NASDAQ: EGOV) joining the Connected Nation Partner Program. As part of the partnership, NIC is excited to support Connected Nation’s effort to get better online access and services to more people and students currently underserved. Connected Nation, a national 501(c)3 non-profit, has garnered international, industry-wide recognition as a best-practice model for broadband expansion.
“Through our state government partners, NIC delivers access to essential services, contacts, and information that make a real difference in peoples’ lives,” said Harry Herington, Chief Executive Officer of NIC. “This partnership with Connected Nation is a natural extension of what we do every day by using the Internet to deliver information quickly and easily. We are eager to work with Connected Nation to help more families get broadband access so they can take advantage of the thousands of convenient eGovernment services offered by our state and local government partners.”
“NIC is the dominant leader in providing essential eGovernment services,” said Brian Mefford, Connected Nation Chief Executive Officer. “NIC will be a vital asset to the Connected Nation model as our partnership continues to rely on some of nation’s leading technology organizations and associations to provide essential, everyday services that demonstrate the benefit of accelerated broadband access to those currently not served.”
NIC is the nation’s largest provider of eGovernment services and serves more than 69 million citizens in 21 states. NIC provides convenient access to relevant state and local services that saves businesses and citizens time and money. Government agencies are able to serve taxpayers more economically with online services by offering real-time transactions that eliminate the need to visit an agency office, reduce duplicate data entry, and cut paper forms and hard copy storage out of government’s processes.
Connected Nation brings together key public and private stakeholders to support the expansion of broadband and broadband-enabled technology to underserved areas and to increase the use of technology through outreach and literacy building programs. A study from Connected Nation shows a potential annual total nationwide economic impact of $134 billion by accelerating broadband access in every state.
This partnership was piloted in the successful ConnectKentucky initiative in which NIC, the Commonwealth Office of Technology, and Connected Nation jointly identified 65 counties without a Web presence. Each county was presented with an e-strategy, including a county Web site. Seventy new county Web sites were launched in a span of six months, bringing new, convenient services to the businesses and citizens of these counties.
Looking forward, if Kentucky continues to invest in an effective statewide broadband adoption strategy through ConnectKentucky, the state can expect to realize:
- $1.06 billion in annual direct wages from jobs created or saved in Kentucky
- $9.3 million in annual self-reported healthcare costs savings
- $91.1 million per year in mileage savings from broadband preventing unnecessary driving
- 46.1 million lbs of CO2 emissions reduction per year in Kentucky ($249,000 emission credits)
- $424.9 million value in the 52.8 millions hours saved per year from accessing broadband at home
As part of the partnership, NIC Chief Executive Officer Harry Herington joins the Connected Nation Board of Directors.
The Connected Nation model relies on a public-private structure to accomplish extensive broadband asset mapping and to create customized local technology plans through grassroots “eCommunity” leadership teams. Additional programs include No Child Left Offline, which places computers in homes that otherwise could not afford them. The Connected Nation model has been identified by numerous federal agencies, states and independent organizations as the preferred national model for accelerating broadband and broadband-enabled technology.
About Connected Nation: Connected Nation is widely recognized as the nation’s model for improving digital inclusion. Connected Nation expands access to and use of broadband Internet and the related technologies that are enabled when communities and families have the opportunity and desire to connect. For the United States, this means better education, more jobs, improved healthcare, more efficient government and a better quality of life. For more information about Connected Nation, visit www.connectednation.org.
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 2,900 state and local agencies that serve more than 69 million people in the United States. Additional information is available at www.nicusa.com.
---
Autor(en)/Author(s): Kasey McCrary & Nancy Beaton
Quelle/Source: Businesswire, 22.04.2008
