The apparatus for provides power to selected line drivers in a communication
system. Each selected line driver has a respective inherent internal voltage drop.
Each selected line driver is coupled with a respective communication loop for providing
a respective minimum operational voltage to the respective communication loop.
The apparatus includes: (a) a control means coupled with the selected line driver
devices for controlling supply voltage to the selected line drivers; and (b) a
power supply means coupled with the control means and with the selected line driver
devices and cooperating with the control means to deliver a respective supply voltage
to respective selected line driver devices. The respective supply voltage is at
least equal with the respective minimum operational voltage less the respective
inherent internal voltage drop for each respective selected line driver device.