Efficient access in satellite communication system

Efficient utilization of a shared pool of time-frequency slot resources in a return channel among a plurality of remote terminals in a satellite communication system. Within the shared pool of time-frequency slot resources for data, allowing access through circuit-switched TDM allocations, reservation allocations, or random access. Within the shared pool of time-frequency resources for control, allowing duplicate control burst transmissions in random access. Other improvements in the control channel include self-allocation by the remote terminals or hub-allocation to the remote terminals.