In a wireless communication system using a reference channel used for error rate measurement and associated with a plurality of transport channels multiplexed on a coded composite transport channel (CCTrCH), a method is employed for reselection of the reference channel from favorable candidate transport channels. A channel is initially selected from the plurality of multiplexed channels as the reference channel. Channels are monitored based on quantitative data content criteria to determine whether an ON or OFF state exists. A different channel is selected from the plurality of multiplexed channels as the reselected RTrCH when a better candidate transport channel in the ON state becomes available, or when the monitored RTrCH reflects an OFF state.