In this paper, we propose a channel assignment scheme for reducing call blocking rate in a base station(BS) of DS-CDMA cellular systems. The proposed scheme can e applied to the case where the capacity of reverse radio link is enough, but not are the available traffic channels performing the digital modulation and demodulation functions between a mobile station and the base station. The proposed scheme takes advantage of the feature of soft handoff in which a mobile station keeps its communication link even if one of the two communication links is released. The scheme estimates the mean and variance of the received power level measured at the base station before assigning a traffic channel for a new call request. The BS makes decision based on the estimated balues whether the new call request will be accepted or not. If it is decided that the capacity of reverse radio link is enough, but all traffic channels are not available, then the BS increases the soft handoff parameter T_DROP to release the traffic channels of mobile stations loactedin soft handoff area. The BS assigns the released traffic channel to anew call or a handoff call. The performance of the proposed channel assignment scheme is evaluated by computer simulation. The results show that the call blocking rate for new calls and handoff calls is reduced.