A method and system for allocating resources within a data communications network. A bandwidth manager regulates attached devices access to shared bandwidth. The manager ensures that a user has a predetermined amount of bandwidth available or a set speed of data transfer; other users access to shared bandwidth may be restricted as needed to achieve this goal. These other users still have a predetermined minimum amount of access. And so the present invention allows a plurality of users to divide up their use of a shared data communications network in a predetermined manner that ensures the access to this shared resource in a customized way that works best for them.