A unified frame structure for communicating in a synchronous and slotted mesh network is provided. Nodes within the mesh network are designated as primary and secondary nodes. For each transmission, a primary node may first send scheduling information to secondary nodes associated with the primary node. The receiver of the scheduled link may send a clear-to-send signal. For uplink scheduled transmissions, the receiver is the primary node. For downlink scheduled transmissions, the receiver is a secondary node. The transmitter of the scheduled link may receive the CTS signal from one or more proximate receivers, including a receiver associated with the scheduled transmission as well as other receivers not associated with the scheduled transmission. The transmitter of the scheduled link may estimate the signal to interference-plus-noise ratio of other links that are of higher priority and may then determine whether to yield or power back off the scheduled transmission.