Abstract: A method and protocol for dynamic downstream and upstream frequency assignment in a localized microwave distribution system. Downstream frequencies can be assigned via a base station periodic broadcast of a frequency assignment table for a home common control channel in each base station downstream frequency. Customer premise equipment monitors the home common control channel for a frequency assignment message, which preferably includes a table mapping each customer premise equipment, or that equipment for which there has been no recent upstream communication. Downstream frequencies may also be assigned by a customer premise equipment request to a base station sent over a common control channel associated with an upstream frequency associated with a downstream frequency identified during a scan of downstream frequencies. A modified aloha contention algorithm is used if multiple customer premise equipment requests conflict.