The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for controlling a communications system that includes a mobile wireless device, a first and a second base station and a radio network controller. The communications system may allocate frequency bands to users on a multiplicity of channels associated with a multi-layer access network across at least two cells communicatively coupled to a first and a second base station, respectively. The method comprises monitoring a radio emission parameter associated with the first and second base stations that communicate with the mobile wireless device. A radio emission parameter associated with the first and second base stations, such as signal strength or quality, is monitored, to select a target cell among a set of candidate cells for the mobile wireless device and to transfer the mobile wireless device from a first frequency band to a second frequency band. For example, radio resource management algorithms may cause emission-controlled cell selection and inter-frequency handover from a first frequency band to a second frequency band with a transmit power level lower than that of the first frequency band. In accordance with one aspect of the instant application, electromagnetic exposure to a user of the mobile wireless device is substantially decreased, resulting in lower energy costs and reduced environmental impacts.