Abstract: A unique method improves channel scanning by reducing the time required to scan channels. The method reduces the number of channels which must be scanned using information previously obtained in a scan. If two sets of channels which overlap are scanned in two separate scanning steps (522), information obtained in a first channel scan can be used, thereby eliminating the time required for a second channel scan. For example, if the dedicated control channels and the paging channels of a cellular telephone system overlap, the channels which overlap need not be scanned during the channel scan of the paging channels. The method further reduces scanning time by ending the channel scanning of a particular channel if an undesired channel type is detected (808).