Method and apparatus for establishing connections in a communication access network

A communications switch (311) communicates a message to a particular access network endpoint @ by forwarding an identification of that endpoint along with the message, link-by-link, through the access network, the forwarding being accomplished by using previously stored routing information identifying, at the switch and at each cross-connection point (350, 370), a particular downstream link over which the endpoint can ultimately be reached. The links (345, 365) connecting the cross-connection points are multiplexed links supporting digital loop carrier and fiber-in-the-loop communications. The routing information is generated and stored automatically by having each network element report information about itself upstream into the network.