A method and system is disclosed for selectively scheduling control channel messages ahead of traffic channel data. When a RAN in a wireless communication system operating at least according to IS-856 determines that a delay condition exists in the transmission of a particular control packet to access terminals, the RAN will determine if there is a particular traffic packet in active transmission that is classified according to best effort service (or similarly-characterized service class), and further if at least a threshold number of a nominal number of time-slot segments of the particular traffic packet remain untransmitted. If such a traffic packet is identified, the RAN will cancel transmission of the particular traffic packet and replace it with immediate transmission of the particular control packet.