Abstract: In a general connection service using the PPPoE protocol, since user determination cannot be performed before a PPP authentication phase, even when a connection request is received from an invalid user, an access server and an authentication server operate under loaded conditions. Accordingly, an invalid user list is held in the access server, and user information is added to a PADI packet. In this arrangement, an invalid user can be determined at early stages and the packet can be deleted, thereby the load can be reduced. Further, regarding the invalid user, pseudo-connection completion is made and an occurrence of retry is prevented, thereby the load can be reduced.