A network interface which reduces pin count in an MII or GMII system by logically combining certain signals to eliminate redundancies, thereby enabling one external connection or pin to perform the functions previously performed by multiple pins. In particular, the two connections previously used for TX_EN and TX_ER are reduced to a single TX_CTRL connection. Similarly, the three connections for RX_DV, CRS and RX_ER are reduced to a single RX_CTRL connection. The COL connection is also eliminated.