This paper, one in a series of information briefs related to the Internet and taxation, contains a simplified overview of the Internet and a glossary of terms that are commonly encountered in discussing the Internet. Terms that are included in this glossary are italicized when they are used elsewhere in the paper. A series of questions are asked and answered: What is the Internet? Who developed the Internet? How global is the Internet? Why "owns" the Internet? Who controls or runs the Internet? What are the organizational components that make up the Internet? How is something transmitted over the Internet? How does the system know where to send a transmission? Is the Internet free? Why is communication over the Internet so inexpensive? Is the World Wide Web (WWW) just another name for the Internet? How is economic activity affected by the development of the Internet? (AEF)