Radio transmissions to multiple radio terminals are improved using scheduled backoff of a multi-signal power amplifier. A radio channel quality associated with each of the radio terminals is determined. First signals for first radio terminals associated with a better channel quality are amplified by a power amplifier during a first time period resulting in a first composite output signal. Second signals for second radio terminals associated with a lower channel quality are amplified by the power amplifier during a second time period resulting in a second composite output signal. Transmission during the first time period occurs at a first power level, e.g., mean power, that is associated with a lower probability of clipping the first composite output signal. During the second time period, the second composite signal is transmitted at a second power level, e.g., mean power, higher than the first power level which improves reception at the second terminals.