A method connects one of several customer premises equipment (CPE) via an
ATM network to one of several service providers (SP). Each CPE is
connected to the ATM network via a corresponding network termination
point (NT). There is an access server function (ASF), having a permanent
virtual connection (PVC) to each NT and a connection to each SP. A
tunneling protocol is established on the permanent virtual connection
between each NT and the ASF. The tunneling protocol is able to support an
integrated signaling protocol. The CPE or its user select selects an
appropriate SP by using the integrated signaling protocol. Routing from
the CPE to the selected SP is performed by the ASF. The ASF connects the
CPE to the selected SP using the integrated signaling protocol.