A communication system assigns a combination of values of multiple combinations of values to a first control channel parameter and a second control channel parameter. Based on the values assigned to the first and/or second control channel parameters, repeat periods corresponding to each of a first, second, and third control messages are determined. New combinations of values of the multiple combinations of values are then assigned to the first and second control channel parameters and new repeat periods corresponding to each of the first, second, and third control messages are determined in association with each new combination. Optimal repeat periods corresponding to each of the first, second, and third control messages are then selected from among the repeat periods determined with respect to each combination of values. Based on the selected repeat periods, an optimal combination of values is selected for each of the first and second control channel parameters.