Abstract: Mobile terminals in a high data rate CDMA system may be placed in a control hold mode wherein reverse link control channels are gated, or transmitted at a reduced duty cycle. Mode decisions are based on the activity of the mobile terminal in both the forward and reverse links. A forward link inactivity timer is maintained at the base station that schedules forward link communications to a mobile terminal. The reverse link inactivity timer may be maintained at the same base station, at a different base station in the mobile terminal's active set, or at the base station controller. The forward link inactivity timer may follow the mobile terminal's selection of best forward link serving base station in handoff. When both the forward and reverse link inactivity timers have expired, and no forward link data is pending, the mobile terminal may be commanded to a control hold mode.