Abstract: A frame organized time division multiplex communication system includes a central office and at least one remote terminal. A time division link connected between each remote terminal and the central office carries signals organized in time division multiplex frames. The central office determines the time division multiplex link frame format. Each remote terminal has at least one interface connected to the time division link that multiplexes signals into the time division multiplex frames, demultiplexes signals from the time division multiplex frames and monitors the time division frames from the time division link for in-frame and out-of-frame operation. An interface controller in the remote terminal determines the frame configuration of the interface multiplexing and demultiplexing. The controller identifies interfaces exhibiting out-of-frame operation and automatically switches the identified out-of-frame interfaces to an alternate frame configuration.