An apparatus to forward network timing packets with controlled delay, the apparatus comprising: policing logic configured to determine whether a packet is admissible to a controlled delay queuing logic or to a conventional queuing logic, wherein the controlled delay queuing logic comprises a first class, the first class including network timing packets, and the conventional queuing logic comprises multiple queues including a pre-emptive priority class and a second class; wherein, when it is determined that the packet is admissible to the controlled delay queuing logic, the controlled delay queuing logic is configured to hold the packet in the first class for a queuing time of a predetermined controlled delay value; scheduling logic configured to delay transmission of the packet in the first class until the queuing time reaches the predetermined controlled delay value, and configured to determine whether to delay transmission of a packet in a second class of the conventional queuing logic to allow the transmission of the packet in the first class of the controlled delay queuing logic when the queuing time reaches the predetermined controlled delay value; wherein the scheduling logic delays transmission of the packet in the second class in response to determining that transmission of the packet in the second class would complete after the queuing time reaches the predetermined controlled delay value; and wherein the scheduling logic schedules the transmission of a packet in a pre-emptive priority class, and wherein the controlled delay queuing logic drops the packet in the first class if the queuing time exceeds the controlled delay value due to the transmission of the packet in the pre-emptive priority class. policing logic configured to determine whether a packet is admissible to a controlled delay queuing logic or to a conventional queuing logic, wherein the controlled delay queuing logic comprises a first class, the first class including network timing packets, and the conventional queuing logic comprises multiple queues including a pre-emptive priority class and a second class; wherein, when it is determined that the packet is admissible to the controlled delay queuing logic, the controlled delay queuing logic is configured to hold the packet in the first class for a queuing time of a predetermined controlled delay value; scheduling logic configured to delay transmission of the packet in the first class until the queuing time reaches the predetermined controlled delay value, and configured to determine whether to delay transmission of a packet in a second class of the conventional queuing logic to allow the transmission of the packet in the first class of the controlled delay queuing logic when the queuing time reaches the predetermined controlled delay value; wherein the scheduling logic delays transmission of the packet in the second class in response to determining that transmission of the packet in the second class would complete after the queuing time reaches the predetermined controlled delay value; and wherein the scheduling logic schedules the transmission of a packet in a pre-emptive priority class, and wherein the controlled delay queuing logic drops the packet in the first class if the queuing time exceeds the controlled delay value due to the transmission of the packet in the pre-emptive priority class. <EOS>