Internet Access Provider
     
         (IAP) A company or other origanisation
        which provides access to the Internet to businesses and/or
        consumers.  An IAP purchases an Internet link from another
        company that has a direct link to the Internet and resells
        portions of that bandwidth to the general public.
     
        For example, an IAP may purchase a T1 link (1.544Mb/s) and
        resell that bandwidth in chunks consisting of ISDN (64Kb/s,
        128Kb/s) and analog modems (14.4Kb/s, 28.8Kb/s).  The IAP's
        customer base is likely to include both businesses and
        individuals.  Individual customers usually connect to the IAP
        via a modem and telephone line to a (preferably local) point
        of presence.
     
        An IAP may also be an Internet Service Provider.
     
        (1996-06-25)