(CAP, or "Bypass carrier") A company which provides network links between the customer and the IntereXchange carrier or even directly to the {Internet Service Provider}. CAPs operate private networks independent of Local Exchange carriers. ["Getting Connected The Internet at 56k and Up", Kevin Dowd, First Edition, p. 49, O' Reilly & Associates, Inc., June 1996, ISBN 1-56592-154-2 (US), ISBN 1-56592-203-4 (international)]. (1997-07-23)