The present invention relates to a mobile station capable of determining its current location within a wireless communication system. The mobile station periodically generates an estimate of its current location or mobility and then monitors channels for channel selection based thereon in order to minimize frame stealing while in active mode and save energy during idle mode. The same information is also useful for determining which cells to monitor and controlling how frequently position or changes of position estimates are made. Although the invention requires a determination of the mobile station's position or mobility, the manner in which the mobile station determines these characteristics may vary. A separate positioning receiver, terrestrial or satellite based, such as that used with the Global Positioning System, may allow the mobile station to calculate its position. Alternatively, the mobile station may monitor signals provided during communications with the base stations to calculate a relative position. In yet another embodiment, the base stations and associated cellular systems may cooperate to determine a particular mobile station's position and then download the position to the mobile station.