A system (100) and various methods and apparatus for efficient communications of data across various protocol layers are disclosed. A control and transceiver system (1400) configured for determining a data rate control (DRC) value and for transmission a maximum number of time slots allowed for transmission of a physical layer packet of data (510). After detecting a normal termination of transmission, the decoding thresholds (401, 402) are adjusted for decoding a positive acknowledgment message, and repeating decoding of acknowledgment channel (340) with the adjusted thresholds (401, 402). Retransmitting the physical layer packet of data at least one more time after based on whether the repeat of decoding of the acknowledgment channel (340) produces a negative acknowledgment message. The retransmission may be conditioned upon a throughput level of communications between the base station and the mobile station.