A first channel correlation is calculated for each pair of access terminals in a population of access terminals. A particular pair of access terminals is identified from the population of access terminals based on the first channel correlations. The population of access terminals includes a first access terminal of the particular pair of access terminals, a second access terminal of the particular pair of access terminals, and at least one remaining access terminal from the population of access terminals. A second channel correlation is calculated between the first access terminal and each of the at least one remaining access terminal. A third channel correlation is calculated between the second access terminal and each of the at least one remaining access terminal. One of the first access terminal and the second access terminal is selected to drop from service based on the second channel correlations and the third channel correlations.