A communication system (100) includes a tap (120) that has an input port (202) for receiving a signal and output ports (225) coupled to the input port (202) for providing the signal to subscriber equipment (125). Each of the output ports (225) has a programmed status comprising either an enabled status or a disabled status. After the statuses have been programmed and the output ports (225) have been set, a controller (210) coupled to the output ports (225) periodically restores the programmed status of the output ports (225) after programmed period of time, thereby automatically resetting inadvertent status changes.