service provider isp 108 the subscriber premises device 102 remote access server device 104 cot 106 and isp 108 are equipped with modems 112 114 116 and 118 respectively one or more of the modems e g modems 114 and 118 may be remote access server ras modems while one or more of the remaining modems e g modem 116 may be client modems the isp 108 is coupled as shown to the internet 120 the connections between the devices 102 104 106 and 108 may be via telephone line digital subscriber line dsl integrated services digital network isdn line as well as combinations of these and other conventional wired or wireless communication lines in the system 100 communications are established between the subscriber premises device 102 and the internet 120 via a modem relay connection which includes the modems 112 114 116 and 118 although not shown in fig4 a server or other device associated with the internet 120 includes a modem or similar dce which represents an endpoint of the modem relay connection the modem 112 associated with the subscriber premises device 102 is the other endpoint of the connection in accordance with the invention the modems in the modem relay connection other than the endpoint modems are configured so as to utilize a different type of escape to on line command mode function than that of the endpoint modems more specifically as described in greater detail above the escape to on line command mode functionality of.