A method for providing protection in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of protecting devices, PD, protecting a plurality of licensed devices, with the plurality of protecting devices comprising a primary protecting device, PPD, a plurality of secondary protecting devices, SPD, and a next-in-line protecting device, NPD, wherein a PD is a beaconing device that is protecting a low-power, licensed device, wherein a PPD is a device that uses periodic beacons to protect its corresponding licensed device, and its protection may be extended to other licensed devices in the area, wherein an SPD is a device that shares the responsibility of protecting its corresponding licensed device with the PPD, and wherein an NPD is an SPD that will be the first candidate to become a PPD in the event that the already existing PPD ceases operation; and making a determination at the next-in-line protecting device regarding whether a periodic update timer will expire in a certain number of superframes; when the periodic update timer will expire in the certain number of superframes, making a determination at the next-in-line protecting device regarding whether the periodic update timer has expired in a current superframe; when the periodic update timer has expired in the current superframe, transmitting a next-in-line codeword at the next-in-line protecting device, and restarting the periodic update timer; and when the periodic update timer has not expired in the current superframe, making a determination at the next-in-line protecting device regarding whether a non-acknowledgement message has been received from the primary protecting device in an immediately previous superframe, and: when the non-acknowledgement message has been received at the next-in-line protecting device from the primary protecting device in the immediately previous superframe, deferring transmission of the next-in-line codeword; and when the non-acknowledgement message has not been received at the next-in-line protecting device from the primary protecting device in the immediately previous superframe, transmitting the next-in-line codeword at the next-in-line protecting device, and restarting the periodic update timer. providing a plurality of protecting devices, PD, protecting a plurality of licensed devices, with the plurality of protecting devices comprising a primary protecting device, PPD, a plurality of secondary protecting devices, SPD, and a next-in-line protecting device, NPD, wherein a PD is a beaconing device that is protecting a low-power, licensed device, wherein a PPD is a device that uses periodic beacons to protect its corresponding licensed device, and its protection may be extended to other licensed devices in the area, wherein an SPD is a device that shares the responsibility of protecting its corresponding licensed device with the PPD, and wherein an NPD is an SPD that will be the first candidate to become a PPD in the event that the already existing PPD ceases operation; and making a determination at the next-in-line protecting device regarding whether a periodic update timer will expire in a certain number of superframes; when the periodic update timer will expire in the certain number of superframes, making a determination at the next-in-line protecting device regarding whether the periodic update timer has expired in a current superframe; when the periodic update timer has expired in the current superframe, transmitting a next-in-line codeword at the next-in-line protecting device, and restarting the periodic update timer; and when the periodic update timer has not expired in the current superframe, making a determination at the next-in-line protecting device regarding whether a non-acknowledgement message has been received from the primary protecting device in an immediately previous superframe, and: when the non-acknowledgement message has been received at the next-in-line protecting device from the primary protecting device in the immediately previous superframe, deferring transmission of the next-in-line codeword; and when the non-acknowledgement message has not been received at the next-in-line protecting device from the primary protecting device in the immediately previous superframe, transmitting the next-in-line codeword at the next-in-line protecting device, and restarting the periodic update timer. when the non-acknowledgement message has been received at the next-in-line protecting device from the primary protecting device in the immediately previous superframe, deferring transmission of the next-in-line codeword; and when the non-acknowledgement message has not been received at the next-in-line protecting device from the primary protecting device in the immediately previous superframe, transmitting the next-in-line codeword at the next-in-line protecting device, and restarting the periodic update timer.