Abstract: A hybrid transmission cycle (HTC) unit of bandwidth on a shared transmission medium is defined to include an adaptive, time division multiplexing transmission cycle (ATTC), which is allocated in portions sequentially among all participating network entities, and a residual transmission cycle (RTC), which is allocated in portions, as available, to the first network entity requesting access to the shared medium during each particular portion. The ratio of logical link virtual channels, or D-Channels, to data payload virtual channels, or B-Channels, within the ATTC is adaptive depending on loading conditions. Based on transmission profiles transmitted on the D-Channels during the ATTC, each network entity determines how many B-Channels it will utilize within the current HTC. This calculation may be based on any decision network, such as a decision network modelling the transmission medium as a marketplace and employing microeconomic principles to determine utilization.