Then, radio node 110-1 may request from computer 124 authorization to transmit in the granted portion of the spectrum. For example, radio node 110-1 may provide a first instance of a (periodic) keep-alive message (such as a heartbeat request) to computer 124 in order to request authorization to transmit in the granted portion of the spectrum. Notably, radio node 110-1 may provide the first instance of the keep-alive message at a transmit time during a time interval (such as a start of a heartbeat interval or duration). When radio node 110-1 receives, at a receive time prior to prior to a first instance of a transmit expire time, an instance of a keep-alive response from computer 124, then radio node 110-1 may be authorized to transmit in the granted portion of the spectrum until a subsequent instance of the transmit expire time has elapsed.

However, if there are delays (e.g., in network 114 and/or computer 124), if retries are needed (such as because of dropped packets or frames), or both, a given instance of the keep-alive response may not be received in time (i.e., before a given instance of a transmit expire time). When this occurs, radio node 110-1 may not be allowed to transmit in the granted portion of the spectrum. Instead, radio node 110-1 may need to repeat providing the grant request to computer 124, receiving the grant response from computer 124, providing a given instance of the keep-alive message and receiving a given instance of the keep-alive response before transmitting again in the granted portion of the spectrum. The resulting time delays can degrade communication and quality of service in a network that includes radio node 110-1.