An apparatus may receive a plurality of data streams for transmission over a network. The apparatus may adjust packet drop rates in proportion to differences between actual bit rates and target bit rates of the data streams. Information about the adjusted packet drop rates may be provided to rate adaptive endpoints that are generating the data streams. The rate adaptive endpoints may respond to the information by adjusting the bit rates at which the data streams are encoded. Over one or more time intervals, the bit rates are adjusted to levels that yield a transmission of the data streams that is both balanced and unbiased.