A communication system includes: a transmitter configured to be responsive to a control request from a local device that facilitates toggling of the transmitter On and Off in a pattern of interruption to generate multiple consecutive On/Off bits having On/Off signals with a same pulse width that represents control information, the transmitter configured to transmit data via a communication medium at a first end thereof, the communication medium also having a second end; and, in response to the pattern of interruption, the transmitter is configured to interrupt the communication medium at the first end, each interrupting of the communication medium at the first end resulting in a detection of a loss of signal at the second end.