A system, device, and method for scheduling data transmission opportunities for variable bit rate traffic provides data transmission opportunities at a peak cell rate when the end user is actively transmitting data, and provides data transmission opportunities at a lower rate when the end user has no data to transmit. When the end user has no data to transmit, any excess data transmission opportunities (i.e., data transmission opportunities from the lower rate up to the peak cell rate) are available for statistically multiplexing traffic from other end users. Various embodiments utilize a lower rate anywhere between a zero rate and a sustainable cell rate, inclusive. Alternative embodiments allocate a burst of data transmission opportunities equivalent to a maximum burst size at the peak cell rate when the end user has data to transmit, after which the end user is once again provided data transmission opportunities at the lower rate.