Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing the cascaded, multi-channel transmission of a plurality of data characters is provided. Each sequence of data characters preceded by a start delimiter. Each transmission channel provides transmitted data frames to an associated elasticity buffer. As each channel detects a start delimiter, it asserts a begin-request signal that acknowledges detection of the start delimiter. When all channels have detected a start delimiter, a read-start signal is asserted to simultaneously advance the read pointer of each elasticity buffer. In this manner, each elasticity buffer initiates a sunchronized read for local use or retransmission of the multi-channel data.