A network communications protocol to allow endpoints in a computer network to communicate their respective requirements for access to a network resource to each other, and to communicate a policy for access to the network resource by the endpoints. The network protocol may also allow negotiation of access to the network resource for the respective endpoint in accordance with the policy and the requirements information communicated by other endpoints. The network resource may be access to a WAN connection or an Internet connection, or may be a device such as a network printer or network attached storage.