An equivalent working length (EWL) determinative system (11) for use in a digital subscriber line (DSL) telecommunication network (10) is provided. The EWL system (11) includes a DSL circuit (32) having a customer site (14) with customer premises equipment (30). The customer premises equipment (30) receives and transmits communication signals and generates a first attenuation signal in response to the communication signals. A remote terminal (20) forms a loop (31) with the customer site (14) and has a loop length. The remote terminal (20) includes a remote terminal transceiver (40) that is in communication with the customer premises equipment (30). A main controller (37) is electrically coupled to the customer premises equipment (30) and determines an EWL of the loop (31) in response to the first attenuation signal. A method of performing the same is also provided.