Apparatus and methods for maximizing utilization of a dynamically varying channel are provided. A transmitter encodes and transmits data over one or more digital data channels. A forward error correction coder is associated with the transmitter for error correction coding of one or more blocks of the data. The one or more blocks of error correction coded data are transmitted at a predetermined transmitting rate over the one or more digital data channels to a receiving module. A rate control module is provided for controlling a data rate of the transmitter and the sending of the error correction coded data of the forward error correction coder based on feedback from the receiving module. The feedback may comprise a receiving data rate of received data.