A forward link design is provided employing CDMA technologies in which time division multiplexing is employed between data and control information on the forward link to service multiple users per slot. The additional contact pads are formed on the smart card on the area located between the ISO 7816 standardized contact pads C1 through C4 and C5 through C8, which area was previously used solely as a ground plane connection to contact pad C5. The interconnect for the carrier can be formed using different contact technologies including: thick film contact members on a rigid substrate; self-limiting contact members on a silicon substrate; or microbump contact members with a textured surface. At least some of the risers are partially obstructed at their bottom ends, in order to prevent entry of gas bubbles through the bottom of the tube.