This disclosure enables a radio access network to control media data rates and codec parameters selected during multimedia session establishment. As the load on a radio network changes, operators desire to have the ability to control what data rate new multimedia sessions (e.g., VoIP) are to utilize, thereby allowing the operator to conduct a trade-off between voice/video quality and capacity during heavy loading periods. The multimedia communication session may be initiated with a determined guaranteed bit rate, where the guaranteed bit rate is requested, negotiated as one of several acceptable guaranteed bit rates, or based upon maximum system capacity, to take advantage of maximum data rate for the equipment in use. The session may also be initiated with a determined Quality of Service based upon either a network or user equipment installed policy.