A communication system having a proxy architecture is disclosed. The system includes a platform that provides performance enhancing functions. The platform includes a path selection/activation apparatus that routes information within a communication system. The path selection/activation apparatus receives path selection and path activation parameters from the platform and maintains the current parameters in one or more path selection/activation profiles. The path selection/activation apparatus routes packets of information throughout the communication system based on the path selection and/or path activation profile. The above arrangement has particular applicability to a bandwidth constrained communication system, such as a satellite network.