A method and system is disclosed for dynamic adjustment of forward-link rate-control parameters. An access terminal in a wireless communication system that includes a base station will determine a requested forward-link data rate by measuring a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the forward link, and looking up a corresponding forward-link data rate in one of three different tabulations of SNR threshold values against forward-link data rates. The AT will operate in a first state in which the access terminal uses a single tabulation for both increasing and decreasing measurements of SNR, and upon receiving a message from the base station indicating high time slot utilization on the forward link, the AT will transition to operating in a second state in which the access terminal uses a dual tabulation, wherein one of the dual tabulations is used for increasing measurement of SNR, and the other is used for decreasing measures of SNR.