A method that adjusts the power level of a set of forward-link signals of a base station responsive to the loading of the forward link as determined by a power level measurement of the signal set. One power level measurement is a pilot fraction of the forward link. Other power level measurements, such as the signal set's power level, can be used, alone or in combination, instead of or in addition to the pilot fraction of the forward link to adjust the power level of the signal set. The power level of the signal set can be changed in any manner, including by scaling it by a scaling factor, or by increasing the power level by a fixed or a variable amount. The power level measurement of the signal set is obtained during a current time period. The scaling factor that will be used in the subsequent time period is determined using the power level measurement. In one embodiment of the invention, the scaling factor can be obtained from a look-up table that is based on the power level measurement. If the cell containing the base station includes several sectors, the power level of the signal set in a sector is adjusted when the power level measurement in that sector indicates that the power level should be adjusted.