A scheduling unit is provided for managing upstream message allocation in a communication network. The scheduling unit includes a processor configured to determine (i) a number of channels communicating in one direction stream of the communication network, and (ii) a MAP interval duration of the communication network. The scheduling unit further includes a media access control (MAC) domain configured to (i) calculate a staggered allocation start time for each separate channel of the number of channels, and (ii) assign a different allocation start time, within the MAP interval duration, to each separate channel.