Abstract: In a cellular communication system, a method and apparatus are provided for allocating a channel for use on a connection between a base station and a mobile station in a cell, without making measurements of downlink interference. Throughout the system, uplink and downlink power levels are regulated so that, within each cell, their sum changes by an amount whose magnitude is substantially equal to the magnitude of change in path gain between the mobile station and the base station in that cell, and which sum is opposite in sign to the amount of change in path gain. This power regulation scheme assures that there will be a strong correlation between system-wide measurements of uplink and downlink interference. Therefore, with the power regulation scheme in place, each cell determines uplink carrier to interference (C/I) ratios for the free channels available for use in the cell and selects an acceptable free channel having a C/I value that is within a predetermined acceptable range.