A process, device and computer-readable storage medium that incorporate teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying a wireless device that is unable to distinguish between a non-reduced power subframe and a reduced-power, subframe of a communications protocol including a frame having a pre-defined arrangement of non-reduced power subframes and reduced-power subframes. First and second instructions are sent to the wireless device to respectively perform a first channel quality assessment of a non-reduced power subframe and a second channel quality assessment of a reduced-power subframe. The first and second instructions respectively identify the non-reduced power subframes and the reduced-power subframes within which the first and second channel quality assessments are to be performed. After receiving the first and second channel quality assessments, it is determined whether the channel quality assessment performed by the wireless device includes instantaneous measurements. Other embodiments are disclosed.