Techniques to implement MBMS services in a wireless communication system. In one aspect, a method is provided for p8rocessing data for transmission to a plurality of terminals. Frames of information bits (which may have variable rates) are provided to a buffer implementing a matrix. The matrix is padded with padding bits based on a particular padding scheme to support variable frame rates. The frames are then coded based on a particular block code to provide parity bits. The frame of information bits and the parity bits are then transmitted to the terminals. In another aspect, a method is provided for controlling the transmit power of a data transmission to a plurality of terminals. In accordance with the method, TPC streams are received from the terminals and processed to obtain a stream of joint power control commands used to adjust the transmit power of the data transmission.