A method, at a first network access device of a heterogeneous network, the method sending a report to a second network access device indicating a user equipment (UE) in the vicinity of the second network access device to be handled in the uplink by the second network access device; receiving an uplink timing control report from the second network access device; transmitting uplink timing control adjustments to the UE; allocating uplink resources for the second network access device to forward uplink information; allocating physical downlink control channel (‘PDCCH’) resources belonging to the first network access device for transmitting uplink scheduling information provided by the second network access device to the UE; receiving uplink information including uplink scheduling information from the second network access device at the first network access device; and sending the uplink scheduling information to the UE.