Embodiments reduce overhead in Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) networks by reducing the amount of switching among Optical Network Units (ONUs) done by the Optical Line Terminal (OLT). In one embodiment, Logical Link Identifiers (LLIDs) hosted by the same ONU are linked at the OLT such that the OLT grants same ONU LLIDs consecutively when appropriate. This reduces the optics related delay associated with switching among ONUS. At the same time, the linking of LLIDs hosted by the same ONU allows for data from multiple LLIDs to be grouped together within a single Forward Error Correction (FEC) block at the ONU, when appropriate, reducing FEC overhead.