1. A method performed in a digital home communication terminal (DHCT), the method comprising: storing a program audio signal corresponding to a program tuned by the DHCT; storing an incoming audio signal carrying speech; removing from the incoming audio signal a portion of the incoming audio signal that corresponds to the program audio signal, thus producing an improved version of the incoming audio signal; selecting one of a plurality of voice-activated commands that corresponds to the improved version of the incoming audio signal; and performing a function corresponding to the selected voice-activated command.