ok, i get the individual unique addresses and what not, but now i am talking about the wire. how come i have to pay my ISP? Who do they pay? I'm assuming it's that alliance of networks i read about on Wikipedia that kinda started it all up and joined together. I think I kinda answered my own question but let me know if im on the right track.

thanks for all the help guys, i understand it a lot better now

p.s. - we're watching his movie in AP Bio, so we might as well make a day of it