Method and apparatus for connecting local subscribers to a LAN

The present invention pertains to the telephone network and in particular, to the local loop that extends from the subscriber sites to the Central Office (CO) serving those sites. The present invention specifically concerns a method and apparatus for allowing the copper twisted pair at individual subscriber sites, to reappear at the central office and allows these subscribers within a specified proximity to be interconnected in the form of a Local Area Network (LAN). The present invention provides a method and apparatus for allowing the copper pair at each subscriber site to reappear at the CO. It also provides inter-connectivity between subscribers within a specified proximity, thereby allowing the subscribers to operate as a LAN. By placing a router between various Distributed Point of Presence Local Area Networks (DPOPLAN) and service provider that offer services such as Internet access, a large communication can easily be created.