A method and apparatus may determine a plurality of access points. The plurality of access points belong to a cluster set of a user device. The method may also include allocating a plurality of uplink access channels to the plurality of access points. The plurality of uplink access channels may include uplink polling channels. The plurality of uplink access channels are allocated such that the plurality of access channels are staggered in time within a frame structure used by the plurality of access points and the user device.