Abstract: Apparatus for dropping and inserting digital data in a time division multiplexed, serial data stream. A communications link is divided into two spans with an electrical switch connecting the two spans. Data is used to derive channel-timing information defining the time divisions or strobes of each of the multiplexed channels. The strobe pulses are used to toggle the switch so that local transmit-and-receive channels may be inserted and dropped in accord with the channel strobe pulses. The same channel strobe pulses used for transmitting local data are used for receiving data from the multiplexed bit stream. In the absence of channel strobe pulses, the switch connects the two links.