A method for effecting communications, such as telephone calls, accesses to data network sites, alarm system communications, and/or other communications, having certain origins over a communications network. The method comprises: receiving a request for a communication originated by first end-user equipment at a first end-user premise when an ability of the first end-user equipment to communicate via a first communication link connecting the first end-user equipment to the communications network is disrupted; determining, based on an origin of the communication, that the communication is to be effected over the communications network; and causing information pertaining to the communication to be exchanged between the first end-user equipment and the communications network via a wireless communication link established between the first end-user equipment and second end-user equipment at a second end-user premise and a second communication link connecting the second end-user equipment to the communications network. Also provided are apparatus and computer-readable media containing a program element executable by a computing system to perform such a method.