A method and apparatus to provide call origination without requiring full power in a time division multiple access ('TDMA') cellular phone system (fig.2, fig.4). A time delay is measured (410) from the beginning of a timeslot containing a request (400) for a call setup to the beginning of the request (400). An estimated distance is derived from the time delay (420). The estimated distance is used to address a look-up table to arrive at a distance index (430). A power level index (440) is selected from the minimum of either the distance index (430) plus a fixed integer or a maximum value. The fixed integer is a value greater than zero and is based on the propagation characteristics of the particular cell. The maximum value is the power level that will sustain an acceptable signal quality at a cell site boundary. The power level index (440) is then used to address the look-up table to arrive at assigned power level (450).
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