Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate utilizing different power control algorithms as a function of access terminal speed. For instance, instantaneous Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) reports can be inverted for slow moving access terminals while long-term geometry inversion (e.g., average CQI report inversion) can be utilized for quick moving access terminals. Speed of the access terminal can be estimated based upon time correlation of CQI values. Further, selection of implementing instantaneous CQI inversion or long-term geometry inversion can be based upon the estimated speed of the access terminal.