A manager node (105) controls access to a shared network communication medium by a number of nodes. A first node (101) transmits a request to the manager node (105). The request includes information indicating that the first node (101) requires a QoS link to a second node. The manager node (105) determines whether the QoS link from the first node (101) to the second node can be supported and sends an accept message to the first node (101) when the QoS link can be supported. Prioritized media access control may also be used in a distributed network without using a manager node to control access to a shared communication medium. A node with high priority data may reduce the duration of its contention window so that it will have a better chance of gaining control of the shared communication medium than a node with low priority data.