An apparatus for managing a data rate based on an amount of available data for a predetermined time period includes a storage device storing machine-readable code and a processor executing the machine-readable code. The machine-readable code includes a determination module determining a target data rate for data communication over a network by a network device. The target data rate is based on an amount of available data for a predetermined time period and an amount of time remaining in the predetermined time period. The machine-readable code includes a data rate module maintaining the data rate at or below the target data rate in response to the determination module determining the target data rate.