A method and apparatus whereby a communication unit (10) transmits a communication channel request and the nearest base site (12) makes the communication channel grant or allocation. A base site receives the channel request signal, measures the received signal strength (RSSI) level of the received signal, and if that level is above a threshold level, a communication channel is allocated to the requesting communication unit, thus establishing a communication link. If the channel request signal does not have an RSSI level above the threshold, the base site delays the grant of a communication channel for a period inversely proportional to the measured RSSI level to allow other base sites the opportunity to grant a communication channel to the requesting communication unit. If the base site determines that another base site has granted a communication channel to the requesting communication unit, the allocation process is stopped, and the base site continues scanning for channel request signals.