In one embodiment, a first ranging timing description describing at least a duration of time during which a subject cable modem (CM) may burst and a duration of time during which the subject CM and other CMs in a multiple access network are not permitted to burst is translated into a second ranging timing description describing a duration during which a burst from the subject CM is expected to be received by a cable modem termination system (CMTS). The CMTS is conditioned to receive a burst from the subject CM during the duration of time described by the second ranging timing description. A timing offset is determined from at least an actual time a burst from the subject CM is received by the CMTS and the duration of time during which the subject CM and other CMs in the multiple access network are not permitted to burst to produce a determined timing offset. The determined timing offset is reported to compensate for delay in the multiple access network and the subject CM.