Some implementations of the present invention provide mechanisms for gating the transmission of FIN and other short overhead messages of the like in order to improve spectral efficiency. In some implementations spectral efficiency is improved by reducing the number of air-link connections established to merely transmit FIN and other short overhead messages of the like. In one implementation FIN messages are buffered in a queue and transmitted when an air-link connection is established to transmit higher value messages. In one implementation FIN messages are buffered and transmitted when the contents of the buffer breach a threshold that justifies the establishment of an air-link connection to transmit the contents of the buffer.