Methods, circuits and architectures for managing channel access and/or reducing contention in network transmissions where such transmissions may not be acknowledged within a certain time period, computer programs adapted to implement such methods, and systems and networks including such circuits/architectures. When the information is not so acknowledged, the methods generally include (1) waiting for a predetermined time period before attempting to retransmit the information, and/or (2) retransmitting the information. The action taken may depend on the priority of the information. The circuit and/or architecture generally includes (a) a transmitter, (b) a priority detector, and when the information is not acknowledged within a certain time period, (c) logic for (i) retransmitting the information having a first priority and (ii) waiting before attempting to retransmit information having a second priority. The present invention has particular advantage in wireless networks and advantageously improves network transmission efficiency, reliability and/or performance.