A method and apparatus is provided for eliminating conflicts on a communication channel, and particularly on a shared communication channel having a plurality of active stations, each capable of seizing use of the channel. A counter at each station contains a representation of the identity (address) of the station having the current opportunity to seize use of the channel. The representation is sequentially altered to provide the opportunity to each station to seize use of the channel, and each station not having such opportunity is inhibited from seizing the channel. The representations in the counters are synchronized each time a station seizes use of the channel, and may also be synchronized if no station seizes use of the channel.