Aspects of the methods and apparatus relate to exploiting the spectrum of a high power base station cell to provide higher capacity in a wireless communication system. Generally, a small cell with multi-carrier support may detect an absence of high power base station cell coverage or absence of high power base station cell users and may harness the high power base station cell carrier spectrum to provide higher data download rates and/or serve more mobility users. Specifically, aspects of the methods and apparatus include transmitting a first signal on a first carrier from a first access point and determining a current ability of a second access point on a second carrier. Thereafter, aspects of the methods and apparatus include transmitting a second signal on the second carrier from the first access point according to the determined current ability of the second access point.