Assigning power spectrum density to access terminals within a wireless network environment is provided. Assignment information that includes assignment of reverse link transmission resources is determined and a power control instruction is created for the assigned reverse link transmission resource. An assignment message that includes both the assignment information and the power control instruction is formatted and communicated to the access terminals. The assignment message includes a Reverse Link Power Control field that indicates a transmit power spectral density assigned by the access point to the reverse-link transmission by the terminal.