Provided is a system and method for a modem including one or more processing paths. Also included is a number of interconnected modules sequentially arrayed along the one or more paths. Each module is configured to (i) process signals passed along the paths in accordance with the sequence and (ii) implement predetermined functions to perform the processing. Further, each of the modules has a particular degree of functional programmability and the degrees of functional programmability monotonically vary in accordance with the sequence.