Final answer:
The Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) is the framework used to transport different authentication protocols, serving as a flexible container for various types of authentication methods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The framework used for transporting authentication protocols instead of the authentication protocol itself is Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). EAP is an authentication framework that provides general guidance for authentication methods. Unlike traditional authentication mechanisms like CHAP (Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol) or MS-CHAP (Microsoft CHAP), which define exact methods of authentication, EAP acts as a container that can carry an arbitrary authentication protocol. One common use of EAP is in wireless networks and point-to-point connections, where it can transport different authentication protocols such as certificates, smart cards, or one-time passwords among others.