The probability of a time out and the resulting waste of channel capacity in a communication system is decreased by controlling the length of the time out period so as to minimize the number of time outs that occur. The length of the time out is based on the sum of the average channel delay and four times the deviation in the channel delay. A delay is introduced into the communication channel so as to increase the deviation in the channel delay. This results in an increase in the length of time required for a time out. As a result, the number of time outs is drastically decreased which in turn decreases the number of wasteful ramp up times that results in a more efficient use of channel capacity.