A method and apparatus for dynamically controlling a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) to provide a plurality of gain steps thereby providing automatic gain control (AGC) in a receiver intermediate frequency (IF) stage comprising a succession of operational amplifiers wherein at least one is for providing fine gain control and wherein the gain of each fine gain amplifier is controlled by the resistance ratios of a plurality of selectively biased MOSFETs. In one embodiment of the invention, three coarse amplifiers are provided, each having a gain of either 0 dB or 12 dB based on the value of a two-state signal provided to each amplifier gain control input. A single fine gain amplifier has a gain of 0 dB, 3 dB, 6 dB or 9 dB based on the binary value of the two-bit signal provided to the amplifier.