Embodiments of a feedback generator and decoder and methods of operating the feedback generator and decoder are presented. In one embodiment, the feedback generator includes a CQI compression module configured to provide a compressed CQI for the user equipment corresponding to at least one sub-band, where a sub-band is composed of at least one resource block. The feedback generator also includes a transmit module coupled to the CQI compression module and configured to transmit the compressed CQI to a serving base station. In one embodiment, the feedback decoder includes a receive module configured to receive a compressed CQI in the base station from user equipment corresponding to at least one sub-band. The feedback decoder also includes a CQI restoration module coupled to the receive module and configured to provide a restored CQI from the compressed CQI for the at least one sub-band.