A system and method in a client device (22) for controlling the power within the client device. The client device has a network access device (30, 130) and a controller (42). The network access device has at least a powered state and a power-off state. The controller provides a time period for operating the network access device in the powered state. The controller determines the time period based on a discontinuous reception parameter obtained from the network access device. The network access device determines whether wireless coverage exists for the network access device and provides an indication thereof wherein the controller switches the network access device to the power-off state if there is an out-of-coverage condition.