A method for implementing an upstream symbol alignment within a network component, the method comprising receiving an upstream sync signal via an initializing digital subscriber line (DSL) during a channel discovery phase from a customer premise equipment (CPE), determining a corrected upstream symbol alignment value based upon the upstream sync signal, and transmitting the corrected upstream symbol alignment value to the CPE, wherein the upstream symbol alignment value determines an upstream symbol alignment for one or more upstream transmissions, and wherein the corrected upstream symbol alignment value is determined before receiving a plurality of upstream data signals within the data symbol positions during the channel discovery phase.