A method in a wireless communication device including receiving control signaling from a base station in a control region of a downlink carrier spanning a first bandwidth, receiving a signaling message from the base station indicating a second bandwidth, receiving a first control message within the control region using a first Downlink Control Information (DCI) format size, the first DCI format size based on the first bandwidth, and receiving a second control message within the control region using a second DCI format size, the second DCI format size based on the second bandwidth, wherein the second bandwidth is distinct from the first bandwidth and the first and second control messages indicate downlink resource assignments for the downlink carrier.