Methods and apparatus for transmitting Ethernet data along an Ethernet link with a BASE-T transceiver are disclosed. One exemplary BASE-T Ethernet transceiver includes an Ethernet data framing module having an input interface to receive Ethernet block data bits at a first data rate. Logic associates the Ethernet block data bits with an auxiliary bit and a number of zero bits. An error encoder is coupled to the logic to encode all of the data bits, auxiliary bit and zero bits into an error encoded transport frame having plural error check bits. A symbol mapper receives the error encoded transport frame and transforms the error encoded transport frame into multiple symbols. A transmitter coupled to the symbol mapper transmits the multiple symbols over an Ethernet link at one of a selection of symbol rates. The data rate of data transmitted over the Ethernet link is based on the number of zero bits.