A method for determining a gating rate in a base station for a CDMA communication system is disclosed. The method comprises transmitting information for assigning a dedicated control channel and a traffic channel to a mobile station, when a call is generated; after call setup, transmitting a message requesting mobile station's capability information to the mobile station; receiving the capability information including gating availability information of a reverse pilot signal and information about at least one gating rate, transmitted from the mobile station in reply to the request message; and determining a gating rate according to the capability information, transmitting information about the determined gating rate to the mobile station, and transitioning to an active sate. The mobile station's capability information includes information about gating availability and at least one gating rate, when gating is available.