Abstract: An optical add-drop filter for use in a communication system which is capable of communicating both supervisory traffic and communication traffic. Communication traffic is modulated onto first radiation occupying a first range of radiation wavelengths, and supervisory traffic is modulated onto second radiation occupying a second range of radiation wavelengths. When the first and second radiation is received at one or more of the nodes, it is then filtered in the add-drop filters associated therewith to isolate add channels, drop channels, a supervisory channel drop and a supervisory add from primary relatively-low attenuation paths of the filters. The add channels, the drop channels, and the supervisory channel drop and add are then isolated at secondary paths associated with, but not included in the primary paths.