A common access platform which is based on a scalable distributed architecture with integrated data capabilities to support asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and time division multiplex (TDM) traffic. The platform is capable of serving multiple remote terminals with a significant increase in ATM and TDM traffic capacities. Furthermore, the platform is expandable by connecting a primary bank which includes ATM and TDM fabrics with one or more secondary banks through one or more stackplane buses. The traffic capacity of the common access platform can be flexibly scaled up or down by adding or subtracting secondary banks from the platform. The stackplane bus provides modularity for interconnections between the primary and secondary banks (Fig. 1).