At a bustling community health center in the heart of Boston one winter evening, Dr. Alister Martin sat across from a 64-year-old man, a patient at the center whom we will call Larry out of respect for his medical privacy. We were college students volunteering with Link Health, an organization that Martin founded, and we had joined the doctor that night in hopes of helping patients at the center sign up for a new discounted Internet service through the federal government. It is known as the Affordable Connectivity Program, or ACP.

As an emergency physician, Martin has seen how reliable Internet access can make all the difference in managing chronic conditions, staying informed, and avoiding isolation. Larry, however, remained dubious about the program.