A method of providing network access across a shared communications medium between competing users includes the steps of monitoring network access usage by each user for a past time interval and, based on the monitored network access usage, allocating network access for each user for a future time interval. Features include forecasting network access of the users in a future time interval, and prioritizing the users for allocating network access to the users. The network access allocations represent network access allowances available to the users during the future time interval, and further may represent network access usage.