A system, apparatus, computer program product, and method for controlling output power levels of over-the-air (OTA) transmission signals from a terminal operable on a network. At least one parameter used by the terminal in establishing its proper RF output power level is provided by the network in a channel assignment message(s). The terminal can then define the proper output power level in changing circumstances, such as where the common broadcast channel is mapped on a different band than traffic channels, in connection with handover or DTM operations, etc. Further, the parameter is provided via the channel assignment message(s) in connection with DTM operation after handover, where the common broadcast channel is mapped on the same frequency band as the traffic channel. When the proper output power level has been defined using the parameter received from the channel assignment message, the terminal can communicate information to the network using the proper output power level.