Example methods and apparatus to determine digital subscriber line (DSL) configuration parameters based on current and historical DSL performance characteristics are disclosed. A disclosed method includes obtaining first data representative of a current performance characteristic for a DSL modem, obtaining second data representative of a historical performance characteristic for the DSL modem, computing, at a maintenance server, a configuration parameter using the first and the second data, and reinitializing the DSL modem with the computed DSL configuration parameter when the computed configuration parameter has a value different from a previous value of the configuration parameter, wherein the DSL configuration parameter is computed prior to the reinitializing of the DSL modem.