An optical network unit for managing digital subscriber line (xDSL) connections to a passive optical network. According to one embodiment, the optical network unit comprises data structures in the form of managed entities that are issued by the optical network unit for managing each of the xDSL connections. Each managed entity is associated with one or more network features and comprises one or more elements further comprising relationships to other managed entities, attributes, actions, and notifications. The passive optical network provides a data connection between the individual xDSL subscriber connections and external networks, such as the Internet and a switched telephone network.