Patent ID: 7130336

Claim:
Apparatus for use in a communications system for providing access to telecommunication services, comprising: a user terminal operable by a subscriber for receiving telecommunication services; a net terminal coupled between the user terminal and an access point associated with a communications network including a first high speed, broadband modem, a second, lower speed, narrowband modem, and first switching circuitry selectively controllable to direct signals to and from the user terminal via the communications network using the first modem or the second modem; the access point including one or more high speed, broadband modems, one or more lower speed, narrowband modems, and second switching circuitry, different from the first switching circuitry, selectively controllable to support a connection with the user terminal via the communication network using one of the broadband modems or one of the narrowband modems; and a controller for controlling the first and second switching circuitry to support the connection.