An apparatus for data processing in a multi-channel communication system is provided. The apparatus includes an encoder configured to encode a number of bits for transmission via channels in the multi-channel communication system into coded bits and split the coded bits into a number of first sets of bits at a first ratio, a number of first rate units coupled to the encoder, each of the first rate units being configured to adjust one set of the first sets of bits in size at at least one rate, and a controller configured to assign the first ratio to the encoder and the at least one rate to each of the first rate units based on conditions of the channels.