a method and apparatus for providing fast detection of a high speed shared control channel . the hs - scch carries information necessary for receiving data via a high speed downlink shared channel . the apparatus receives messages transmitted via a plurality of hs - scchs . the apparatus measures a channel quality for the messages received via each hs - scch . the apparatus performs a threshold test by comparing the channel quality with a predetermined threshold . the apparatus then selects a hs - scch having the best channel quality among the hs - scchs .