We present a parallel multilevel fast multipole algorithm aimed at low cost parallel computers such as GRID computer environments and clusters of workstations. The algorithm is a scheduling algorithm where work packets are handled in a certain order to ensure minimal idle time of the processors and to avoid simultaneous bursts of communication between the processors. The algorithm is implemented on a method of moment discretization of a two-dimensional TM electromagnetic scattering problem. Examples of several optical devices with a size up to 28 500 wavelengths are presented.