The presentation invention relates to methods and apparatus for communicating data in communications networks. An exemplary method in accordance with one embodiment includes the steps of: establishing a first Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) session between a wireless base station and a Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS); receiving via the first TCP session at the CMTS a first set of TCP data packets from a cable modem located on a communications path between the wireless base station and the CMTS, the first set of TCP data packets having been sent by the wireless base station; and determining, by the CMTS, whether to send an Acknowledgement (ACK) message or a Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) message to the wireless base station for the entire first set of TCP data packets based on verifying a subset of TCP data packets of the first set of TCP data packets.