One embodiment of the present invention relates to a network device. The network device includes a receiver configured to be coupled to a transmission medium supporting a multi-carrier channel over which data is communicated as symbols in a first communication state according to an initial bit-loading configuration. The receiver is further configured to detect noise that can corrupt the symbols on the multi-carrier channel. In addition, the receiver is configured to, in response to the detected noise, allocate at least part of the multi-carrier channel to a transient robust channel that facilitates adaptive communication. Other methods and devices are also disclosed.