A method and apparatus for adaptively controlling the power level of transmissions from a remote station by determining the velocity of the remote station. A general classification of the velocity of the remote station can be used to selectively implement a closed loop power control scheme. Power level parameters are used to determine velocity. In accordance with a classification of stationary, low speed, or high speed, the closed loop power control is selectively operated. Velocity can be determined by either the base station or the remote station through various methods. One method is the use of power control bits and/or average power to determine level crossings and excursion times.