A universal interface apparatus having a processor for receiving one or more Network Interface signals having a transport mechanism associated therewith. The transport mechanism may include Asynchronous Transfer Mode, Internet Protocol, Frame Relay, Integrated Services Digital Network, High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line, Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, Very High Data Rate Digital Subscriber Line, Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line, 10 base T, 100 Base T, Gigabit Ethernet and E1/T1. The processor may recognize the transport mechanism associated with each Network Interface signal. In the event Asynchronous Transfer Mode is recognized as the transport mechanism, the processor may also segment perform Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) adaptation layer processing on each Network Interface signal. Further, the universal interface apparatus includes a bus interface device for generating a System Interface signal from the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) adaptation layer processed Network Interface signal in response to the recognized transport mechanism.