DOCSIS Cable Modem Data Burst Defined Previously I have discussed that cable modems share the upstream channel by using Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA).  This means that when a cable modem is not transmitting data its RF transmitter is turned off.  In order to transmit data it must transmit a burst of data which contains a REQUEST to the CMTS.  The REQUEST relays the cable modem's Service IDentifier and the number of bytes of information the modem has to transmit in its buffer.  The CMTS prioritizes all incoming