A system and method for transmitting IP packets arranged in an L.times.D matrix comprising data packets and L number of FEC packets, L corresponding to a number of columns in the matrix, and D corresponding to a number rows in the matrix includes assigning a first location in the matrix as an FEC packet location, skipping D number of locations in the matrix from the most recently assigned FEC packet location to a new location, and determining if the new location is positioned in the same column as an existing FEC packet location. The new location is assigned as an FEC packet location if it is determined that the new location is not positioned in the same column as an existing FEC packet location. If it is determined that the new location is positioned in the same column as an existing FEC packet location, then the location is moved back in the matrix until the moved-back location is not positioned in the same column as an existing FEC packet location, and the moved-back location is assigned as an FEC packet location. The skipping, determining, assigning, and moving back are repeatedly performed until the number of FEC packet locations is equal to L. The FEC packets protecting the D previous IP packets in the same column are transmitted in accordance with the identified FEC packet locations.