A method and system for use in a central office (CO) having network elements for communicating information between a central office technician (COT) stationed within the CO and network element monitoring personnel or monitoring center stationed remote from the CO. A local area network (LAN) having a hub stationed remote from the CO and a fiber communication line connected to the hub is provided. The fiber communication line has one end extending to the hub and the other end extending within the central office. The hub is operable for communicating with network element monitoring personnel stationed remote from the CO. A node transceiver is coupled to the other end of the fiber communication line within the central office. A wireless transceiver is operable with the node transceiver for providing a communication link between a COT stationed within the CO and the network element monitoring personnel stationed remote from the CO via the local area network. An Internet protocol communication link connects the hub of the local area network with the network element monitoring personnel. An alarm circuit connects the network element monitoring personnel with the network elements. The network element monitoring personnel monitor the status of the network elements using the alarm circuit.