Abstract: Existing customer premises wiring can be used with high speed digital modems, such as RADSL modems by using POTS filters in line with each piece of PSTN equipment. Alternatively, an RADSL modem includes a line monitor which detects when a piece of PSTN equipment experiences a hook-switch transition. Upon that occurrence, the error detection circuitry in the RADSL modem is disabled for a time period sufficient to avoid the counting (with associated RADSL modem rate change) of any burst errors associated with the PSTN equipment going off-hook or on-hook.