The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for encoding k input symbols, using a Reed-Solomon erasure correction code, into a longer stream of n output symbols for transmission over an erasure channel. The present disclosure is further directed to a system and method for recovering the original k input symbols from only (and any) k output symbols (out of the n output symbols) received over the erasure channel. A symbol is a generic data unit consisting of one or more bits that can be, for example, a packet. The systems and methods of the present disclosure provide for an adjustable code rate that can be readily adapted based on changing channel conditions without having to reconstruct the encoder/decoder. As a result, such an encoder/decoder can be referred to as rate-independent.