A method and apparatus is provided for use in a radio communication system having a first and second base site communication unit (116, 118) operatively coupled to a first and second transcoder (106, 108), respectively. This system also includes a mobile communication unit which is requesting to enter a linked-communication mode with the first and second base site units. In order to perform a linked-communication, a transcoder-base site interface link is established between the second base site and the second transcoder. In addition, the second transcoder is configured to operate in a bypass mode such that it relays information within the transcoder-base site interface link through a communication across regional entity (CARE)-Link in conjunction with a CARE-Control-Link between the first and second transcoder. Finally, the first transcoder is configured to operate in linked-communication mode by relaying information within the CARE-Link which is controlled by the CARE-Control-Link.