Method, apparatus, and system for exchanging information in a communication system having a plurality of transmission schemes are presented. A first power level is selected at which slices of information are capable of being exchanged over a communication link at a first slice rate. A first transmission scheme is selected that produces an acceptable link performance when exchanging information over the communication link at the first power level. The first power level is reduced to a second power level. A second transmission scheme is selected for exchanging information over the communication link at the second power level that produces at least the acceptable link performance produced when exchanging information over the communication link at the first power level using the first transmission scheme. Slices of information are exchanged over the communication link at the second power level and at a second slice rate using the second transmission scheme. The second slice rate is at most equal to the first slice rate multiplied by a ratio of the first power level divided by the second power level.