A dual PHY-based integrated access device (IAD) platform employs a highly integrated time division multiplexed (TDM), a synchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell based architecture, to provide enhanced interfacing flexibility for multiple and diverse signaling protocols, effectively reducing the cost and constraints as to choice of host processor used in conventional digital signal processor (DSP)-based IADs. With the signaling transport speed of the dual PHY based path being an order of magnitude greater than that of any of the plurality of communication paths with which the IAD is interfaced, the IAD of the invention provides effectively real time support for different communication requirements, including TDM, ATM, HDLC, and the like.