In the method for configuration negotiation in a data communication system, an access network receives an access request and a token from an access terminal. The token includes at least one bit associated with a parameter group type, and the bit indicates whether the access terminal is operating according to a default parameter group for the associated parameter group type. The access network sends information to and receives information from the access terminal according to the default parameter group without negotiating a parameter group of the associated parameter group type when a portion of the access network communicating with the access terminal operates according to the default parameter group for the associated parameter group type and the bit indicates the access terminal operates according to the default parameter group for the associated parameter group type.