In the method of processing soft handoff information at a base station, soft handoff information of a mobile station is received at the base station. The soft handoff information indicates at least a number of base stations in an active list of the mobile station. The active list is a list of base stations involved in a call of the mobile station. The base station applies a rules set to the soft handoff information to determine changes in the active list. The rules set requires more stringent conditions be met to add a base station to the active list when the active list includes a first number of base stations as compared to when the active list includes a second number of base stations; wherein the first number is greater than the second number. The determination results are then sent to the mobile station.