In the dynamic access priority method, priority classes with different backoff delays are used to prioritize random access over shared channels and to reduce collision in the presence of a surge of random access requests. Service class information for a plurality of service classes is stored at user equipment. The service class information for a service class includes at least one of a maximum and a minimum back off value; the maximum back off value being indicative of a maximum back off interval and the minimum back off value being indicative of a minimum back off interval. At least one of a maximum and a minimum back off value is determined based on a selected service class of the user equipment, and a back off interval is determined based on the determined back off value. The back off interval indicates a period of time the user equipment waits before the user equipment attempts a transmission.