Starting with MS-DOS 2.0, a program has five open files available to it [1], stdin, stdout, stderr, stdaux and stdprn. By default, the first three point to the CON: device, stdaux to the AUX: device (usually the serial port) and stdprn to PRN:. I suppose a paper tape punch could be either AUX: or PRN:, but the reference I'm using (_The MS-DOS Encyclopedia_) doesn't have a reference for a paper tape at all.

[1] Much like Unix programs have three open files.