[en] Stepped ionization with excitation (SIE) in neon in case of electron collision with metastable 3s-atoms of NeI has been studied. The investigation of SIE processes was carried out by the optical method of beam emission in a gas cell with an electron beam. Cross section of ion stepped excitation has been measured for the first time. Like stepped excitation of atom levels it is characterized by a large value of cross section, for ²P⁰_3/2 level it is 2.5x10^-15cm²