Systems and methods for encoding data for transmission over a communications channel using an improved LT staircase FEC code are provided. Embodiments may include mapping source symbols to repair symbols, wherein a number of edges of the mapping associated with a source symbol is determined randomly according to a first distribution. The repair symbols may be ordered, and at least a first repair symbol may be encoded based on the source symbols that map to the first repair symbol and/or another repair symbol that immediately precedes the first repair symbol in the ordering of the repair symbols.