Different parts of the Internet work differently, but they all use the same peer network and transmit information in the same way. As they work their way to their destination, the packets bounce separately from peer to peer, like pinballs, around the Internet. They are directed around the Internet by computer routers which determine the best and fastest route around the Internet for each packet. Our air traffic controllers can learn from the routers. They are the real beauty of the Internet.
Routers reroute information around any system problems or shutdowns.
If the traffic is too heavy in New York City, your information may arrive via Philadelphia with some packets arriving via Denver. It's simply a matter of finding the most efficient route. Physical distance means nothing in cyberspace. The Internet was developed in 1970 by ARPAnet, the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. It was designed to allow the scientific community to communicate with each other and with the Department of Defense.