A system for realizing emergency rate reduction (SOS). A receiver initiates a short rate-reduction request, and communicates that request to a transmitter. The transmitter initiates an operational switch to an adjusted transmission reference (i.e., a new bit/gain table), by sending a signal to synchronize the operational switch for both the transmitter and the receiver. The adjusted transmission reference may be calculated using a formula, from a current bit/gain table, or may be a predefined bit/gain table. The parameters of the formula may be predefined, calculated during initialization, or determined in real time during SOS.