A timely organized ad hoc network is provided. The network includes a media-independent communications link; a plurality of access points coupled to one another via the media-independent communications link; and a plurality of network nodes arranged in a self-assigned hierarchy and operable to transmit and receive at least one node information message destined for at least one of the access points; wherein at least one of the plurality of network nodes transmits the at least one node information message to a first selected one of at least one neighboring destination, the first selected neighboring destination being selected in accordance with a dynamic self-routing protocol, the first selected neighboring destination including one of: i) at least one of the access points, and ii) a first neighboring network node in a different level of the self-assigned hierarchy of network nodes, if the at least one network node is prevented from directly transmitting the node information message to at least one of the access points.