The XE014JS is targeted for remote monitoring equipment which shares a host telephone line such as set top boxes and automated utility meters. The XE014JS includes a pair of circuits which prevent the equipment from interfering with host calls. The Connect Detect circuit monitors line activity and indicates when the host telephone line is in use. By monitoring this signal the equipment avoids interruption of a host call in progress. The handset interrupt circuit monitors the host telephone line for interruptions while the equipment is on-line. this permits the equipment to drop the call in progress if the host picks-up the telephone line.