A method for generating new forward error correction codes, called skew codes, for the reliable transmission of data in noisy channels is disclosed. The method involves adding additional sets of parity equations across the third dimension of a cubic array of bits. The parity equations are applied to the cubic array such that the rectangular patterns of one square array do not match up with a rectangular pattern in another square array. By selecting skew mapping parameters of the parity equations from a set of quadratic residues of prime numbers according to specific design rules, the resulting codes are well suited to low-complexity high-speed iterative decoding, and have error correction performance and error detection capability, particularly for applications requiring high code rates. An improved decoding method for decoding skew codes and any code that is defined by a set of sum-to-identity parity equations initially decoded using an algorithm that provides confidence values on all the symbols at every symbol time is also disclosed. Generally, the improved decoding method will make hard decisions based upon the soft decisions passed from the failed iterative decoding system to provide a valid code word, through manipulation of the parity check matrix and reduction of its columns and rows.