System and method for telecommunication

A user terminal exchanges information with a server through a transmission medium. A coupling unit couples the user terminal to the transmission medium in accordance with information from the server. Likewise, the server is controlled in accordance with information from the user terminal. In this manner, communication is created and performed between the server and the user terminal. The user terminal may be a Set-Top Unit which may be adjusted to the transmission medium by, for example, a physical medium converter or the communication itself between the Set-Top Unit and the server may be adjusted as directed by programs installed in the Set-Top Unit which may originate from the server.