A method of controlling communications in respect of a local area network, the local area network having at least one user-device (22, 23, 24, 25) located therein operable to communicate via a local area network gateway device with one or more remote devices in a communications network (10, 15) outside the local area network, communications being carried via one or more local area network links for at least a portion of a path between the at least one user-device (22, 23, 24, 25) and the local area network gateway device, and being carried via a digital subscriber line for at least a portion of a path between the local area network gateway device and the one or more remote devices, the method comprising: monitoring one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics in respect of data communications on the digital subscriber line whereby to identify changes in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics; characterised in that the method further comprises: monitoring data flow rate in respect of one or more data flows on one or more local area network links between said at least one user-device (22, 23, 24, 25) and said local area network gateway device whereby to identify changes in said data flow rate; and adjusting the data flow rate in respect of said one or more data flows on said one or more local area network links in the event that an identified change in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics coincides with an identified change in said data flow rate; wherein the data flow rate is monitored and adjusted at the transport layer; and wherein the step of adjusting the data flow rate in respect of said one or more data flows on said one or more local area network links comprises adjusting the data flow rate on one or more local area network links in respect of which an identified change in the data flow rate has been observed to have coincided with an identified change in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics in respect of data communications on the digital subscriber line. monitoring one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics in respect of data communications on the digital subscriber line whereby to identify changes in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics; characterised in that the method further comprises: monitoring data flow rate in respect of one or more data flows on one or more local area network links between said at least one user-device (22, 23, 24, 25) and said local area network gateway device whereby to identify changes in said data flow rate; and adjusting the data flow rate in respect of said one or more data flows on said one or more local area network links in the event that an identified change in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics coincides with an identified change in said data flow rate; wherein the data flow rate is monitored and adjusted at the transport layer; and wherein the step of adjusting the data flow rate in respect of said one or more data flows on said one or more local area network links comprises adjusting the data flow rate on one or more local area network links in respect of which an identified change in the data flow rate has been observed to have coincided with an identified change in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics in respect of data communications on the digital subscriber line. monitoring data flow rate in respect of one or more data flows on one or more local area network links between said at least one user-device (22, 23, 24, 25) and said local area network gateway device whereby to identify changes in said data flow rate; and adjusting the data flow rate in respect of said one or more data flows on said one or more local area network links in the event that an identified change in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics coincides with an identified change in said data flow rate; wherein the data flow rate is monitored and adjusted at the transport layer; and wherein the step of adjusting the data flow rate in respect of said one or more data flows on said one or more local area network links comprises adjusting the data flow rate on one or more local area network links in respect of which an identified change in the data flow rate has been observed to have coincided with an identified change in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics in respect of data communications on the digital subscriber line.