A communication system is provided that transitions, or otherwise assures, that a queued origination or destination mobile station (MS) is in a Radio Environment Reporting (RER) mode. Based on Radio Environment Messages conveyed by the MS to a serving network when in an RER mode, the network is able to determine RF resource availability at an appropriate Base Station without having to first page the MS and is further able to consider whether the MS has roamed while queued. By not having to page the MS, delay is reduced relative to the prior art in setting up a call once it is determined that an RF resource may be assigned to the MS. Furthermore, less latency in involved for the network to place the MS into a Traffic state when transitioning from an RER mode than would be the case if the MS was dormant or in an Idle/Access state.