In the subject system for remote monitoring and configuration, management of a remote physical layer device may be performed by receiving, at a local physical layer device, an incoming message of a first communication format from a controller device. The incoming message may include a request intended for the remote physical layer device that is communicatively coupled to the local physical layer device over a transmission line carrying a data channel and a supplemental channel. The incoming message may be parsed into an outgoing message of a second communication format for sending to the remote physical layer device through the supplemental channel. The local physical layer device may receive a response from the remote physical layer device through the supplemental channel. The local physical layer device may convert the response from the second communication format into the first communication format for sending the converted response back to the controller device.