A method for configuring bit rate in a user equipment (UE) for use in a wireless communication system includes receiving guaranteed bit rate information comprising one or more bit rates which are supported by a base station (BS) for communications with the UE, selecting a minimum guaranteed bit rate responsive to user input received at the UE, the minimum guaranteed bit rate being a bit rate identified by the guaranteed bit rate information, generating a first request message requesting the selected minimum guaranteed bit rate, transmitting the first request message from the UE to the BS, the first request message including a request for receiving communications from the BS at the selected minimum guaranteed bit rate, receiving a response message from the BS in response to the first request message, and receiving data from the BS at a bit rate which is at or greater than the selected minimum guaranteed bit rate when the response message comprises an acknowledgement (ACK) message.