I would like to know exactly what bandwidth, and public bandwidth is and how a person can tell the difference.

Bandwidth is bandwidth. Each time something is transmitted through the internet, it uses capacity equivalent to its size in bytes. And each time anything is transmitted, somebody pays for it. That "someone" may be a government agency, an ISP, an advertising website, a retail company, or an individual. Costs are for first, time that the server the item is on spends uploading to the 'net, and secondly, usage of the international network of routers and phone lines that underlies the 'net.

There is no such thing, actually, as "public" bandwidth. Governments and companies (mostly companies) paid and are paying to establish and maintain the complex and costly technology that has to be there in the first place. These companies are committed to both recovering their initial expense and making a profit, which means they bill for their services. The only thing that is actually "free" on the 'net is information which has been put out there by people who are paying the costs of keeping a website up. It's not free to them, but they are providing it as a service to other people they think might need the information. And, in a lot of cases, they're hoping to make a profit from related services they can provide.

"Free" websites don't come free to the providers, but those companies who offer them are still in business (though probably still losing money) because they hope to recoup their expenses and make a profit from revenues from the advertising they force the sites to provide.

Okay, I think I understand the concept. But now, how does one decide whether or not one is stealing bandwidth when copying the hyperlink from a photo on a website and posting it to another? I know it does use bandwidth that does cost money, because I have heard people say it. Do you need to ask permission every time you use photos from a web site? Or is just posting the source good enough? Also, if you have a place to personally store pictures on the net, would it help resolve taking money from others if you saved picture as, uploaded to your site, and then copy hyerlink from there? (still giving credit to original owner of course)

Angela, if it isn't a graphic that you developed, or that you have specific permission to copy from a site, then the correct way to post, if you want other people to see it, is to give a link to the site page the graphic is on, and let people travel there to see it, if they want to.

If you have specific permission, and the graphic is on your site, and your site permits this kind of link, then you can use a link to your site, and add "posted by permission of xxx", and the original site name, if they request it, to the posting.

This keeps you clear with legal and ethical issues, and everyday politeness.

thank you!