A wireless communication system (20) includes an overload control technique that comprises selectively controlling whether a mobile station (30-40) will respond to a common rate control command. In a disclosed example, a statistical rate control is used such that each mobile station responds to the relative grant based upon a probability that the mobile station should respond. A disclosed example includes selecting two control parameters that influence the probability that a mobile station will respond. The probability in one example is dependent on the data rate currently being used by the mobile station when receiving the relative grant.