An improved communication apparatus for transmitting media between a sending node and a receiving node during a conversation. When network bandwidth is insufficient to transmit a full bit rate representation of time-sensitive media, the sending node generates and transmits a reduced bit rate representation of the media for the purpose of increasing the ability of the recipient to review the media upon receipt and continue the conversation in the real-time mode when the bandwidth on the network is insufficient to support the transmission of the full bit rate representation. The sending node also transmits media that is ascertained as not time-sensitive only when bandwidth in excess of what is needed for time-sensitive media becomes available. When the media ascertained as not time-sensitive is transmitted, the rate of transmission is adjusted at the sending node based on network conditions, the adjusted rate of transmission being set for network efficiency and reliable delivery of the media ascertained as not time-sensitive relative to the timeliness of the delivery of the media ascertained as time-sensitive.