A method of establishing communication between an optical line terminal and an optical network unit within an optical access network includes receiving a signal indication from an optical transceiver of an optical line terminal. The signal indication includes: (i) a loss-of-signal indication indicating non-receipt of an upstream optical signal from the optical network unit; or (ii) a signal-received indication indicating receipt of the upstream optical signal from the optical network unit. The method includes determining whether the signal indication includes the loss-of-signal indication. When the signal indication includes the loss-of-signal indication, the method includes instructing the optical transceiver to cease signal transmission from the optical transceiver to the optical network unit. Moreover, when the signal indication includes the signal-received indication, the method includes instructing the optical transceiver to transmit a downstream optical signal from the optical transceiver to the optical network unit.