diff --git a/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterCommunicationService.java b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterCommunicationService.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..87ed221
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/store/dist/src/main/java/org/onlab/onos/store/cluster/messaging/ClusterCommunicationService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+package org.onlab.onos.store.cluster.messaging;
+
+import org.onlab.onos.cluster.NodeId;
+
+import java.util.Set;
+
+/**
+ * Service for assisting communications between controller cluster nodes.
+ */
+public interface ClusterCommunicationService {
+
+    /**
+     * Sends a message to the specified controller node.
+     *
+     * @param message  message to send
+     * @param toNodeId node identifier
+     * @return true if the message was sent sucessfully; false if there is
+     * no stream or if there was an error
+     */
+    boolean send(ClusterMessage message, NodeId toNodeId);
+
+    /**
+     * Adds a new subscriber for the specified message subject.
+     *
+     * @param subject    message subject
+     * @param subscriber message subscriber
+     */
+    void addSubscriber(MessageSubject subject, MessageSubscriber subscriber);
+
+    /**
+     * Removes the specified subscriber from the given message subject.
+     *
+     * @param subject    message subject
+     * @param subscriber message subscriber
+     */
+    void removeSubscriber(MessageSubject subject, MessageSubscriber subscriber);
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the set of subscribers for the specified message subject.
+     *
+     * @param subject message subject
+     * @return set of message subscribers
+     */
+    Set<MessageSubscriber> getSubscribers(MessageSubject subject);
+
+}