A transfer rate controller (10) allows the originator of the data to determine when the data is transferred on the communications link. A method of regulating the transfer of ATM cells to maintain rate precision and provide flexibility for dynamically adjusting the rates at which cells are transferred has been described. In accordance with information on the chronology of prior transfers, cell loss priority, set of rate parameters, traffic types, and priorities, a scheduler (12) determines and schedules the relative ordering or placement of virtual connections with respect to one another. The finder (14) selects virtual connections for data transfer. Therefore, the transfer rate controller (10) provides individual transfer rates to virtual connections in accordance with the type of data traffic transferred.