A faster modem apparatus communicates with customer premise equipment according to a variety of communication protocols. The faster modem apparatus communicates with customer premise equipment comprising an analog soft-modem comprising a codec. A method utilizes an unused portion of the codec operating range to code and decode data signals having frequencies above 4 kHz. The faster modem apparatus also codes and decodes data signals above 4 kHz. The analog soft-modem and the faster modem apparatus transmit and receive coded analog signals at a signal level of greater than -9 dBm. In one embodiment, the faster modem apparatus is also operative to communicate with additional modems such as dial-up modems and DSL modems. In one embodiment, the faster modem apparatus supports simultaneous voice and data communications.