Systems, methods and apparatus for configuring and accessing a random access channel in a CDMA communication system are disclosed. The number of users supported by a random access channel can be optimized by assigning a distinct time of arrival to each of a plurality of users. Each of the users can be time synchronized and can transmit data at a time that compensates for a propagation delay to allow the data to arrive at the destination receiver at the assigned time. In a CDMA system, each of the users can transmit data that is spread with the same spreading code, provided the cross correlation properties of the code are sufficient to allow identification of a source that is time offset relative to another user. The time of arrival can be determined based on the number of active users, and can be assigned as often as each transmission by each user.