Block encoding with a variable rate block code

A control channel encoder comprising:

• a determiner configured to determine a current value of K for encoding control signals of a length M, wherein K is a function of a code rate for a data channel;
• a table generator configured to, if K is greater than a predetermined threshold, i) generate a repeated matrix from a fixed block encoding matrix by variably repeating rows from said fixed block encoding matrix and variably repeating said fixed block encoding matrix three times, and ii) repeat the repeated matrix L times based on a desired code rate;
• a puncturer configured to, if K is less than the predetermined threshold, puncture the fixed block encoding matrix to reduce a size of the fixed block encoding matrix;
• and
• a block encoder configured to utilize said repeated matrix, to encode M input control bits as K encoded control bits, by generating an encoded payload from said repeated matrix.