A digital subscriber line communication system does not require the use of a plain old telephone service (POTS) splitter in the resident's home. Digital signal processing techniques are utilized to adapt to varying subscriber line conditions due to POTS telephone equipment. The digital signal processing techniques eliminate the need for a splitter by reducing susceptibility to distortion due to varying subscriber line characteristics. The digital subscriber line modem characterizes the subscriber line under a variety of conditions. The digital subscriber line modem includes a control circuit which performs rapid retrain operation utilizing line characterization information.