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SCAM ALERT: DCEO has been made aware of organizations receiving fraudulent “notice of award” letters claiming to be from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. These are not legitimate notices from DCEO. If your organization receives a notice, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission and/or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

DECK Communities of Practice

The Digital Equity Capacity Kickstarter (DECK) program represented an integral and strategic component of the State of Illinois’s Connect Illinois vision and commitment to broadband access, adoption, and use—all through the lens of digital equity and inclusion.

This program accepted two waves of awards in 2023 and 2024. Future waves are not anticipated.

Applications covered one or more of the following categories focused on access, adoption, and use:

  • Outreach and Adoption, including support for (now discontinued) federal Affordable Connectivity Program awareness and enrollment
  • Digital Skill Building, Navigation and Use, including digital literacy programming
  • Community Technology Center Access, providing a physical space with internet access and computing devices
  • Access Expansion Feasibility, preparing local governments to play a role in community-led broadband expansion

DECK Project Summaries