Internet protocol (IP) data service providers may provide several services over a single communications channel and/or circuit. For example, the provider may deliver public services such as Wi-Fi, content, gaming, etc. as well as business-critical "back-office" services such as credit card processing, VoIP, streaming video, video conferencing, etc. Some applications can very demanding from a quality of service standpoint, whereas other applications are unwanted or unauthorized on the network such as worms, viruses, denial of service attacks and/or certain types of peer-to-peer file sharing applications. Applications sharing the communication channel may be classified into one or more application classifications. The available bandwidth over the communications channel and/or circuit may then be managed via a prioritization system that can be parameterized based on the available bandwidth and/or the desired application behavior for given characterized applications. Many of the above unwanted applications can be suppressed, after being classified.