The method provides talk around in an OFDMA communication system by sending a talk around request from a subscriber unit to a base unit. At the subscriber unit a RSSI (received signal strength indication) of a signal received from the base unit is determined and sent back to the base unit, in the base unit the RSSI is compared to a predetermined window, if the RSSI is above the window, the request from the subscriber unit is denied, if the RSSI is within the window, a sub-channel of the OFDMA communication system and a power level are assigned to the subscriber unit, the subscriber unit thereby going into talk around mode, if the RSSI is below the window, the subscriber unit does not respond and the subscriber unit goes into a direct communication mode independent of the OFDMA communication system.