Abstract: A remote unit (101) monitors a control channel for a base station (103) and sends a probe message (301) to the base station (103). The base station (103) forwards the probe message with location information (305) to a controller (115). The controller (115) determines an approximate distance for the remote unit (101). Based on the approximate distance, the controller (115) determines at least one additional site. A channel assignment message (309 or 401) is forwarded to the remote unit (101), which message includes one or more traffic channels associated with at least one of the base station (103) and the at least one additional site.