A transponder communication system and method for communicating with a transponder in an electronic toll collection system. A roadside reader attempts to program the transponder in a normal mode in which a programming signal is transmitted to a first coverage area. If the programming attempt in the normal mode is unsuccessful, the reader attempts to program the transponder in an enhanced mode in which a programming signal is transmitted to a second coverage area. The coverage area is adjusted after the programming attempt in the normal mode by using an adjacent antenna to the antenna used to transmit in the normal mode or by increasing the power of the programming signal to a level that is greater than the level used to transmit the programming signal in the normal mode.