Stochastic unified multiple access to a communications channel

In an example of the method aspect of the invention, a first user detects transmissions from a first group of users over a multiple access communications channel. The number of users in the first group of users are counted, and the value of a variable N is set equal to the number counted plus one. The method further includes determining whether the first user has data to transmit during a first time slot, and if so, the method also includes generating a first random number, calculating 1/N, and determining if the first random number is less than 1/N. If it is determined that the first random number is less than 1/N, then a signal is transmitted from the first user during the first time slot.