Virginia government portal No. 1 in nation

My Virginia, the state's home page, Oct. 10 was named the best state government Internet portal in the nation by the Center for Digital Government. Deputy Secretary of Technology Eugene Huang accepted the 2002 Best of the Web award during ceremonies in New York.


"The Virginia portal is one of the finest portals in all of government. The popular 'live help' feature and the new wireless portal launch make this site the most innovative in the country," said Cathilea Robinett, executive director for the Center for Digital Government. "It is a wonderful model for the 21st century face of government."


The Center for Digital Government, based in Folsom, Calif., annually evaluates the Web sites and electronic information services provided by state and local governments across the United States. The Virginia portal placed in the 2001 Best of the Web competition and fifth in 2000.


The Virginia home page, www.myvirginia.org, provides a variety of services, some of which, according to the state, are the first of their kind in the nation to be offered by a state government Web site:


*Live Help ? Online, real-time customer service assistance via the state home page;


*My Mobile Virginia ? Wireless state portal and government services available via wireless and handheld devices;


*Online driver's license renewal;


*Real-time election results for the Web and wireless devices;


*My Virginia Personalized Home Page ? Allows citizens to customize their government home page;


*Consumer Assistance Portal ? allows citizens to identify the appropriate government entity to file a consumer complaint.