A method line powering a remote access device or telephone from a centralized location that includes abstraction of the ancillary signaling functions to that central location. A method of receiving a request for a telephone call includes receiving a digital telephony packet and determining a ring signal in response to the received digital telephony packet. The method also includes generating a voltage signal in response to the determined ring signal and communicating the voltage signal over a twisted pair connection to a digital telephone. The communicated voltage signal is operable to power the digital telephone and generate a ring signal at the digital telephone. The digital telephone is operable to generate digital telephony packets representative of voice data.