1. A method for accessing data over a wide area network comprising: providing a decentralized architecture comprising a plurality of data nodes and a plurality of routers, the data nodes having databases, routing information, query processors, and a path indexes, the routers having routing states; restricting communication between the plurality of routers in accordance with an agreement; initiating communication between at least two of the plurality of routers in accordance with the agreement, wherein initiating communication comprises sending an advertisement comprising at least one of a path insertion or path deletion by a first one of the plurality of routers to at least one of the plurality of routers with which the first one of the plurality of routers has the agreement; and blocking propagation of the advertisement by the at least one of the plurality of routers with which the first one of the plurality of routers has the agreement when the at least one of the plurality of routers has more than one next-hop router in a routing state for path information associated with the advertisement.