Distributed communication equipment architectures and techniques

An apparatus comprising:

• a communication link interface for enabling communication with remote communication equipment through a communication link, the remote communication equipment comprising a controller configurable to exchange control information with a controllable communication module of the remote communication equipment;
• and
• a relay module operatively coupled to the communication link interface and adapted for transferring control information between the controller and a local controllable communication module associated with the communication link interface.

An apparatus comprising:

• an expansion module for transferring communication signals between communication equipment and upstream communication equipment, and between the communication equipment and downstream communication equipment;
• and
• a plurality of communication link interfaces operatively coupled to the expansion module, the communication link interfaces comprising a configurable communication link interface that is configurable for enabling communication with either the upstream communication equipment through an upstream communication link or the downstream communication equipment through a downstream communication link.