An echo canceller, which includes, receives and sends paths connected to standard telecommunication interfaces, a non adaptive filter with filter reflection coefficients which generate an estimated echo signal, which when subtracted from the send path input produces a nearly echo free send path output, an adaptive filter generating a second estimated echo signal, which when subtracted from the send signal, provides a possible alternative nearly echo free send path signal, a fast non iterative least squares method of estimating a reflection, a controller means which, in response to an observed non echo free send path output, causes the fast non iterative least squares method to search for possible new reflections, and a controller means for expurgating unnecessary reflection coefficients in the non adaptive filter.