Example embodiments provide a method and/or network element capable of mitigating one or more effects of operating at full capacity. According to an example embodiment, a network element may address load capacity by identifying that a first network element (e.g., a femto) is operating at a threshold capacity. If a communication from a second network element intended for the first network element is received, an operation is performed that informs the second network element of at least one of (i) that the first network element is operating at a threshold capacity and (ii) that the communication cannot be delivered to the first network element while the first network element is operating at a threshold capacity.