A method and a system for optimizing bandwidth utilization in a communications network (100) in which a commutated bitstream (115) is transmitted. The present invention can include a commutation format definition generator (405) which processes at least one triage value (425) to automatically generate commutation format definitions (155). The triage values can represent priority levels of data elements (420) in particular system states (430) and can be used to determine data transmission rates applicable to the data elements. The system can include a data source (105) which can process the commutation format definitions to generate the commutated bitstream. The data source can select a new commutation format definition to change the format of the commutated bitstream when the system state of the data source changes and optimize the commutated bitstream for the current system state and the current available network bandwidth.