Framing transmit encoded output data begins by determining a scrambling remainder between scrambling of an input code word in accordance with a 1.sup.st scrambling protocol and the scrambling of the input code word in accordance with an adjustable scrambling protocol. The processing continues by adjusting the adjustable scrambling protocol based on the scrambling remainder to produce an adjusted scrambling protocol. The processing continues by scrambling the input code word in accordance with the 1.sup.st scrambling protocol to produce a 1.sup.st scrambled code word. The processing continues by scrambling the input code word in accordance with the adjusted scrambling protocol to produce a scrambled partial code word. The processing continues by determining a portion of the 1.sup.st scrambled code word based on the scrambling remainder. The process continues by combining the scrambled partial code word with the portion of the 1.sup.st scrambled code word to produce the transmit encoded output data.