Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate reliably requesting uplink resources in a wireless communications environment. In particular, mechanisms are provided for reliable uplink resource requests at instants when uplink resources are not retained. A mobile device transmits an uplink resource request on a feedback information channel conventionally utilized for channel quality indicators. The mobile device utilizes specific codewords reserved for uplink requests. In addition, a power spectral density of the feedback information channel is boosted to lower an error rate of the channel when reserved codewords are transmitted.