the invention is a process and system for controlling selection of which ms is to receive the next packet data transmission on a forward channel and selection of which plural mcs is to be used for the packet data transmissions on the forward channel . a process for controlling selection of mcs method to be used by a bts to transmit data packets over a forward shared channel to a ms in accordance with the invention stores information at the bts , the information containing mcs methods which may be selected to transmit data packets over the forward shared channel to the ms ; receiving from the ms at the bts a quality indication of transmission of data packets over the forward channel to the ms ; and selecting a mcs method from a plurality of mcs methods which may be used to transmit data packets on the forward channel dependent upon the received quality indication .