A method, system and computer program product to schedule transmissions in a two-tier network are provided. In an example, the system includes a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) scheduler configured to generate a MAP message to allocate bandwidth and a first instance in time to a cable modem to transmit data to a branch node. The system further includes a MAP message translator coupled to the DOCSIS scheduler and configured to determine a second instance in time at which data from the cable modem arrives at the branch node and generate a GATE message that grants the branch node bandwidth to transmit the data received from the cable modem at the second instance in time to a headend node.