A wireless communication network manages variable data rate communication channels using both short-term data rate adaptation and longer-term resource allocation adjustment. For example, an exemplary base station system may track the actual transmit power being used to transmit a given communication channel on a per frame basis, or faster, and use that tracked value to infer changing channel conditions, e.g., for a given current data rate, higher power indicates poorer channel conditions and lower power indicates better channel conditions. Additionally, or alternatively, channel quality information reported by a receiving mobile station can be used. Regardless, relatively fast data rate changes can be made responsive to monitoring the channel conditions, while retaining the communication resource allocation for the channel. Over the longer term, however, the allocation itself can be changed, e.g., increased or decreased, depending on whether the channel is being efficiently utilized.