A transmit power control (TPC) method and a user equipment (UE) of a telecommunications network utilizing the TPC method. The UE receives TPC commands intended for traffic and control channels. The TPC commands are separately identified by logical or physical resources associated with the channels. When the traffic and control channel TPCs occupy the same resources, the UE applies common power control commands to the traffic and control channels. When the traffic and control channel TPCs occupy different resources, the UE applies separate power control commands to the traffic and control channels.