A local loop access network providing high-speed access at a committed data delivery rate and natural language processing of spoken directory assistance queries. A user's spoken natural language query is processed and a directory assistance database is searched at the network server platform based on the contents of the query. Search results are provided to the user either through an audio interface or as text on a screen. The user is provided with the option of obtaining more information about certain listings and may select a listing to be automatically dialed. Search results are prioritized based on any listings previously selected to be automatically dialed and based on the geographical proximity between the establishments in the results list and the address from which the directory assistance query was initiated.