Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for reducing, in communication signals received by a local network from a remote network (FAR-IN signals), that energy content that is attributable to echoes of signals transmitted into the local network (NEAR-IN signals). This is achieved, in part, by generating a time-varying TEMPLATE signal which represents the smoothed energy content of NEAR-IN signals delayed according to the echo path and attenuated by an estimated echo transmission loss. A non-linear processor passes the FAR-IN signal substantially without attenuation if it exceeds the threshold derived at least in part from the TEMPLATE, but attenuates the FAR-IN signal if it lies within a defined range below the threshold.