A method for informing mobile stations of a control channel architecture for a wireless communications system is disclosed. At a controller in the wireless communications system, the controller sends a control channel architecture message on a broadcast channel. The control channel architecture message informs the mobile station of a control channel architecture for the wireless communications system. At a mobile station in the wireless communications system, the mobile station receives a control channel architecture message on a broadcast channel, retrieves information relating to the control channel architecture from the received control channel architecture message, and performs control channel processing using the retrieved information.