A method and apparatus for performing radio link timer (RLT) management in a wireless network. The method and apparatus examine the frame error rates (FERS) associated with decoded speech or data frames and determine how many speech or data frames are unacceptable. If the number of speech or data frames that is unacceptable exceeds a preset threshold value, a determination is made that the call should be released. This process is performed in both the uplink and downlink directions and determinations as to whether the call should be released are made by the mobile station (MS), the base station system (BSS) or mobile switching center (MSC) for the downlink direction and by the base station system (BSS) for the uplink direction. If a determination is made that the number of unacceptable speech or data frames exceeds the preset threshold, the call is released.