“The rise of the Internet has had a dramatic impact in the lives of most Tennesseans,” Governor Phil Bredesen said. “Technological advances have reduced the costs of doing business, improved access to products and services and generated higher satisfaction among users … and eGovernment has given us the ability to deliver services and information electronically to our citizens — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

2003 was a record year for eGovernment in Tennessee. Over 8.5 million online transactions were performed at Tennessee.gov — a 61% increase over 2002. Tennessee citizens, businesses and visitors are performing more and more tasks online —whether it’s applying for a job with state government or
making reservations at Tennessee State Parks.

Successes highlighting the state’s accomplishments that contribute to the Digital States ranking:

• 64,754 drivers renewed their license online in 2003;


• Nearly $534,000,000 in tax was filed through the Tennessee Department of Revenue's online sales and use tax filing service since July 1, 2003 - the first year of operation;


• Online verification of TennCare enrollment has resulted in a 66% reduction of calls into the TennCare call center;


• Over 15,000 individuals have applied online for state employment and over 30% of all state employment applications are processed online;


• Over 606,000 child support payment inquiries were made online in 2003, a 115% increase over 2002;


• Approximately 33,000 license renewals have been made online with the Tennessee Department of Health Occupational Licensing Division, which provides 73 healthcare professionals the ability to renew their professional licenses online;


• Over 724,000 unclaimed property searches were conducted in 2003.

Among the online services launched in 2003: Weekly certification for Unemployment Insurance, Tennessee State Parks reservations, Driver’s License Reinstatements, Sales and Use Tax Filing, Consumer Tax Filing, and Agriculture Regulatory Services.

The state and its Web application vendor, NIC, Inc. are developing more online services that will soon be available, including;

• Business tax registration


• Local government online tax payment;


• Processing duplicate Drivers’ License or a graduated license;


• Child care locator system


• Continuing legal education payment system; and,


• Campaign finance filing, among others.

Michigan captured first-place in the Digital States survey, followed by Washington, Virginia, Indiana, Arizona, South Dakota, Tennessee (seventh), Utah, Arkansas, Colorado and North Carolina (tied for 10th).

Digital States is the nation’s original and only sustaining survey of state governments’ use of technology in serving the citizen. The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on information technology, providing public- and private-sector leaders with support, research and knowledge to help them effectively incorporate new technologies in the 21st century.