Abstract: A time division multiplexer (TDM) is provided for multiplexing data from a plurality of channels. The TDM system generally comprises a high speed time division multiplexed digital data bus, a synchronizing bus, a plurality of channel cards coupled between the data channels and the data bus with each channel card having its own processor and memory, and a system communication manager (SCM) which is also coupled to the digital bus, and includes a (micro)processor. The processor of the SCM determines the frame for the system and initially forwards the frame information to each of the channel cards during predetermined time slots of the high speed data bus. The channel cards are synchronized by the SCM via the synchronization bus, and the channel cards use the synchronization information and the framing information in order to appropriately place data on and take data off of the high speed data bus without the use of an address bus.