Do internet providers serve a function other than as a hub?

And why is such a hub even needed? It seems really dumb and it’s what’s allowing the mafia to control the internet.
EDIT: I should mention BREIN (a dutch organization doing more harm than good) got a judge to say a bunch of internet providers have to block thepiratebay and ANY copyright infringing website (which would be all of them). I’m genuinely pissed off.