Abstract: The private/residential wireless communication system uses the code division multiple access air interface to provide communication with radiotelephones. The present invention provides support for both physical and virtual private systems. A radiotelephone monitors the broadcast channel of the public system to obtain private system information. The radiotelephone use the broadcast information together with pre-programmed stored private system information in the radiotelephone memory to acquire and register with the private systems. If the radiotelephone locates a private system that is not stored in its memory, it obtains relevant information for registering with that system. The radiotelephone then stores the information of accepting systems. This information is displayed so that a system can be chosen. The radiotelephone then registers with the chosen system.