According to some embodiments, a method for use in a wireless transmitter of a wireless communication network comprises encoding information bits using a parity check matrix (PCM) and transmitting the encoded information bits to a wireless receiver. The parity check matrix (PCM) is optimized according to two or more approximate cycle extrinsic message degree (ACE) constraints. In some embodiments, a first portion of the PCM is optimized according to a first ACE constraint and a second portion of the PCM is optimized according to a second ACE constraint.