The Internet is a series of internetconnected networks. You need to be on *some* network to begin with. Typically, that networks is you "provider". It's a very general term, though. If you happen to connect to a neighbor's unprotected wifi access point, then your neighbor is your provider, unwittingly. If you have a friend w/ a cable modem, and a ham radio, and you have a ham radio connected to your computer, and you implement packet radio, then your friend is your provider. Or if you shell out the $$ like everyone else and get a cable / fios / DSL / dial-up connection, then that service provider is your provider.