A communication system provides PSTN access to a user device coupled to a
packet network over a packet connection. The user device exchanges
telephony signaling and telephony communications in an analog format with
an analog telephone, exchanges the telephony signaling and the telephony
communications in the packet format over the packet connection, and
exchanges Internet communications over the packet connection. A service
node exchanges the telephony signaling in the packet format with the user
device, processes the telephony signaling to select a PSTN connection,
transfers a control message indicating the PSTN connection, and exchanges
the telephony signaling in a PSTN format with the PSTN. An interworking
unit receives the control message, and in response, exchanges the
telephony communications in the packet format with the user device and
exchanges the telephony communications in the PSTN format with the
selected PSTN connection.