A method and apparatus provide a noise detector generating a logic output indicating presence of noise in an incoming signal and an attenuation controller for providing a stepped-response to noise operatively connected to respond to the logic output to record a count of noise detections. The attenuation controller includes an attenuation interval tracking unit for tracking the elapse of clocking intervals defining a predetermined attenuation interval; the attenuation interval tracking unit receives the noise detection signals and generates a decremental count signal for each clocking interval after the attenuation interval has elapsed, the decremental count signal is conveyed to a noise detection counter which alters the count of noise detections indicated by the logic output in response to the decremental count signal, the attenuation interval tracking unit restores the attenuation interval in response to receiving a noise detection; an attenuation signal generator is responsive to the noise detection count signal to set an attenuation factor according to a predetermined relationship between the count of noise detections and the attenuation factor, the attenuation signal being representative of the attenuation factor; and a logic unit for applying the attenuation signal to the incoming signal to attenuate the incoming signal in stepped fashion according to the attenuation factor.