Various embodiments are disclosed relating to techniques to transmit data rate control signals for multicarrier wireless systems. According to an example embodiment, a wireless apparatus may be adapted to transmit at least a first data rate control (DRC) value via an in-phase channel and at least a second DRC value via a Quadrature-phase channel. The first DRC value may be associated with a first forward link carrier and the second DRC value may be associated with a second forward link carrier. In this manner, DRC values may be transmitted over both the I and Q channels, for example.