diff --git a/lib/scheduler.js b/lib/scheduler.js
index c74b2e95b..a746ce9b2 100644
--- a/lib/scheduler.js
+++ b/lib/scheduler.js
@@ -8,11 +8,74 @@
 /**
  * Construct a scheduler for Matrix.
  * @constructor
+ * @param {module:scheduler~retryAlgorithm} retryAlgorithm Optional. The retry
+ * algorithm to use.
+ * @param {module:scheduler~queueAlgorithm} queueAlgorithm Optional. The queuing
+ * algorithm to use.
+ * @prop {module:scheduler~retryAlgorithm} retryAlgorithm The retry algorithm to
+ * apply when determining when to try to send an event again. Defaults to
+ * {@link module:scheduler~MatrixScheduler.RETRY_BACKOFF}.
+ * @prop {module:scheduler~queueAlgorithm} queueAlgorithm The queuing algorithm
+ * to apply when determining which events should be sent before the given event.
+ * Defaults to {@link module:scheduler~MatrixScheduler.QUEUE_MESSAGES}.
  */
-function MatrixScheduler() {
-
+function MatrixScheduler(retryAlgorithm, queueAlgorithm) {
+    this.retryAlgorithm = retryAlgorithm || MatrixScheduler.RETRY_BACKOFF;
+    this.queueAlgorithm = queueAlgorithm || MatrixScheduler.QUEUE_MESSAGES;
 }
 
+
+/**
+ * Retries events up to 4 times using exponential backoff. This produces wait
+ * times of 2, 4, 8, and 16 seconds (30s total) after which we give up.
+ * @param {MatrixEvent} event
+ * @param {Number} attempts
+ * @return {Number}
+ */
+MatrixScheduler.RETRY_BACKOFF = function(event, attempts) {
+    if (attempts > 4) {
+        return -1; // give up
+    }
+    return (1000 * Math.pow(2, attempts));
+};
+
+/**
+ * Queues <code>m.room.message</code> events and lets other events continue
+ * concurrently.
+ * @param {MatrixEvent} event
+ * @return {string}
+ */
+MatrixScheduler.QUEUE_MESSAGES = function(event) {
+    if (event.getType() === "m.room.message") {
+        // put these events in the 'message' queue.
+        return "message";
+    }
+    // allow all other events continue concurrently.
+    return null;
+};
+
+/**
+ * The retry algorithm to apply when retrying events.
+ * @callback retryAlgorithm
+ * @param {MatrixEvent} event The event being retried.
+ * @param {Number} attempts The number of failed attempts. This will always be
+ * >= 1.
+ * @return {Number} The number of milliseconds to wait before trying again. If
+ * this is 0, the request will be immediately retried. If this is negative, the
+ * event will be marked as {@link module:models/event.EventStatus.NOT_SENT}.
+ */
+
+ /**
+ * The queuing algorithm to apply to events. All queues created are serviced in
+ * a FIFO manner. To send the event ASAP, return <code>null</code> which will
+ * not put this event in a queue.
+ * @callback queueAlgorithm
+ * @param {MatrixEvent} event The event to be sent.
+ * @return {string} The name of the queue to put the event into. If a queue with
+ * this name does not exist, it will be created. If this is <code>null</code>,
+ * the event is not put into a queue and will be sent concurrently.
+ */
+
 /**
  * The MatrixScheduler class.
  */