be longer than the maximum distance between transmitting and receiving nodes for csma cd as set by ieee 802 3 because of the operation of intermediate node 308 of local cluster 302 and intermediate node 310 of central office cluster 304 according to the present invention local cluster 302 contains a number of local nodes 320 1 320 n each local node 320 sub 320 n is connected by a respective line of lines 322 1 322 n to a respective terminal 321 1 321 n which may be a computer or it maybe a set to box lines 322 1 322 n are bi directional because computers and set to boxes typically are interactive units communicating data and or messages to and from an upstream unit such as an internet server or an asynchronous transfer mode server in central office cluster 304 each of the local nodes 320 1 320 n is connected to intermediate node 308 by a respective multi channel line 324 1 324 n each of the multi channel lines 324 1 324 n may be multi conductor electrical or optical or may be a single conductor with frequency division channels if frequency division channels are used then a receive and.