A system and method are provided for programming the parallel path width in a serial-to-parallel path transceiver. Initially, the transceiver is programmed to select a link layer (layer 1) protocol, such as Gigabit Ethernet (GBE) or SONET. The method accepts serial digital data in the selected protocol at a serial interface, and differentiates the serial data into units of i bits per unit. Another programmed selection is made between n number of unique data interfaces, where each interface includes a plurality of parallel paths. The serial digital data is assigned to z selected data interfaces and transmitted. In one aspect, the serial data is assigned to m number of parallel path channels, where m is less than, or equal to z, and less than i. In another aspect, the frequency at which each data interface parallel path transmits data is selected.