A method and apparatus for power control on a first channel that is shared by multiple mobile stations transmitting to base stations in a telecommunication system. An initial mobile station transmission power level is set on the first channel that is shared in the random access mode. The transmission power level may be determined based on a desired performance level of the first channel. The method and system may be efficiently applied on a channel that carries a transmission in one or more bursts, with each burst including the same or a varying number of frames of varying sizes. The method and apparatus utilizes a second channel that is shared by multiple mobile stations for transmitting the power control signaling from the base stations to the mobile stations.