An apparatus for and a method of transmitting analog return signals in a digital return path of a cable television system (CATV) is disclosed. In one embodiment, at a node of the CATV system, an analog CATV return signal is converted to a stream of digital samples at approximately 100 MHz. Signals outside of a desired frequency band are removed with a digital filter having predetermined filter coefficients. The resulting stream of digital samples is up-sampled to generate another stream of digital samples at a rate that is four times the center frequency of a predetermined frequency band. The resulting stream is then punctured to generate yet another stream with a data rate that is lower than 100 MHz. Zero samples are removed, and the remaining digital samples are serialized and converted to optical signals for transmission via an optical medium of the CATV return path. A reverse process at a hub or head end of the CATV return system restores the signals of the desired frequency band.