The transmit power level of a transceiver coupled to a digital subscriber line (DSL) line is reduced from a first transmit power level sufficient for the transceiver to continuously transmit data on the DSL line at a first bit rate to a second transmit power level below the first transmit power level sufficient for the transceiver to continuously transmit data on the DSL line at a second bit rate that is lower than the first bit rate. The reduction in transmit power is limited so that the change does not induce time-varying crosstalk sufficient to destabilize a nearby DSL line. While the transmit power level of the transceiver is reduced to the second transmit power level, the transceiver is suspended from transmitting data on the DSL line for repeated periods of time. Suspending the data transmission is controlled to avoid further time-varying crosstalk sufficient to destabilize the nearby DSL line.