Method and system for limiting downlink data rates

A wireless communication device (WCD) stores a mapping that maps each of a plurality of ranges of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) to a respective data rate indicator in a plurality of data rate indicators. Each data rate indicator is associated with a respective modulation-and-coding scheme (MCS) that supports a respective downlink data rate from a radio access network (RAN). The WCD selects a maximum data rate indicator based on a type of application on the WCD that is to receive downlink data, a priority of downlink data to be received by the application, an amount of downlink data to be received by the application, a device type of the WCD, or a subscription level of the WCD. The WCD selects an applicable data rate indicator based on a measured SNR and the mapping, such that the applicable data rate indicator does not exceed the maximum data rate indicator.