The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

Network Information Center

   (NIC) A body that provides information, assistance and
   services to network users.  These will typically include
   telephone and electronic mail "help desk" type services for
   users and network information services such as hostnames and
   addresses which are accessed automatically by computers using
   some client-server protocol (usually Sun's NIS).

   See also Network Operations Center.

   (1994-12-13)