A telecommunication system includes a gateway receiver having a processor and a data storage medium. The receiver is programmed to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of terminals, determine an error rate associated with communication with the plurality of terminals, determine an operating probability from the error rate, and transmit the operating probability to the plurality of terminals. A terminal includes a transmitter programmed to transmit signals to the gateway receiver in accordance with a number of transmitting slots. The terminal has a receiver programmed to receive signals transmitted from the gateway receiver, including an operating probability signal representing the operating probability. The terminal also includes processor programmed to select the number of transmitting slots based at least in part on the operating probability.