Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating communications in a radio communication system that utilizes shared, packet channels. One or more common control channels are defined upon a forward link extending between a network part of the radio communication system and the mobile stations thereof. Assignment information sets so generated by an assignment information generator and formatted into data frames for communication to the mobile stations. The mobile stations monitor a single shared packet control channel to receive the assignment information sent thereto upon the common shared channel.