The invention provides a method for controlling a subscriber line interface circuit, which is connected to at least one data line and to at least one subscriber line associated with a subscriber, in the on-hook state, having the following steps: on-hook data transmission signals are detected in the data line; if an on-hook data transmission signal intended for the subscriber (102) is detected in the data line (122), the detected on-hook data transmission signal is buffer-stored and the subscriber line interface circuit (106) is switched from a passive operating mode to an active operating mode; the buffer-stored detected on-hook data transmission signal is transmitted by the subscriber line interface circuit (106) in the subscriber line (104) to the subscriber (102); and the subscriber line interface circuit (106) is switched to the passive operating mode. The invention also provides a circuit arrangement for carrying out the method.