Automatic power control system for a code division multiple access (CDMA) communications system

A base radio control station (RCS) having subscriber unit (SU) blocking control for wireless communication with multiple SUs in a spread spectrum communication system using code division multiple access, the RCS comprising:

• a transmitter for transmitting signals over global and assigned channels to SUs which are initialized at initial power levels and adjusted to controlled power levels in advance of transmitting communication data signals on assigned channels to SUs which power levels combine to define an RCS transmitter power level, said transmitter transmitting signals as a baseband combined signal;
• a receiver and associated circuitry for controlling the power levels of said transmitter signals;
• said receiver and associated circuitry configured to adjust the signal power levels in response to corresponding power control signals received from the SUs;
• and
• control circuitry for monitoring the RCS transmitter power level and controlling the transmitter such that transmission of a new communication data signal on an assigned channel is blocked if a predetermined RCS transmitter power level limit is reached before commencing transmission of the new communication data signal, said control circuitry monitoring a root mean square value of the baseband combined signal as the RCS transmitter power level.