Abstract: Apparatus far providing telephone communication between a communication network and a remote station employs base and remote modems and a fiber optic communication link connecting the modems. The apparatus operates transparently to the communication network and user instruments at the remote site. Each modem includes audio signal processing equipment. The base modem employs an interface for emulating a user instrument to the network, and the remote modem employs an interface for emulating a network to a user instrument. The remote modem directly connects to a user instrument at the remote site.