Methods and apparatuses are disclosed regarding a wireless field unit, which may receive a plurality of forward link assignment messages for the wireless field unit over at least one first code channel. Each of the forward link assignment messages may indicate a modulation type, a data rate and assigned channel codes for a respective assigned forward link transmission. Also, forward link transmissions may be time multiplexed between wireless field units. The wireless field unit may receive a plurality of assigned forward link transmissions. In addition, the wireless field unit my process each of the received assigned forward link transmissions in response to the respective received forward link assignment messages. Further, the wireless field unit may receive power control information in assigned time intervals on a time division multiplexed second code channel, wherein the time division multiplexed second code channel is time multiplexed between a plurality of wireless field units.