The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for managing downlink channels and/or bandwidth in wireless systems. An exemplary method wireless communications method embodiments includes the steps of: monitoring, by a wireless base station, a downlink channel utilization rate of data transmissions from the wireless base station to a first customer premises equipment (CPE) device on a downlink shared channel to detect a first condition; and upon detecting, by the wireless base station, that the first condition exists, switching from operating in a first wireless base station mode of operation to operating in a second wireless base station mode of operation, said switching from operating in a first mode of operation to operating in a second mode of operation including switching from using a downlink control channel for transmitting downlink control information to the first CPE device to using the downlink control channel for transmitting user data.