A method for reducing access noise in a spread spectrum mobile communication system that includes a mobile station and at least one base station, the mobile station being located in a serving area of the base station, the method comprising: receiving, at the mobile station, a resource indicator message broadcast by the base station, the resource indicator message including a plurality of resource identifiers and indicating a present availability of a plurality of wireless communication resources supported by the base station and identified by the plurality of resource identifiers, each resource identifier identifying an associated wireless communication resource of the plurality of wireless communication resources and corresponding to a communication mode supported by the associated wireless communication resource, wherein the plurality of wireless communication resources support a plurality of communication modes that are usable by a user of the mobile station; storing, in a memory at the mobile station, a file of information indicating a quality level associated with each of the plurality of wireless communication resources; and characterized by when a desired wireless communication resource is indicated as being presently available in the resource indicator message: subsequent to waiting a randomly selected period of time since receiving the resource indicator message, receiving, at the mobile station, a second resource indicator message broadcast from the base station; and when the second resource indicator message indicates the desired wireless communication resource is presently available, transmitting, from the mobile station to the base station on a random access channel, a request to access at least the desired wireless communication resource, wherein the desired wireless communication resource supports a communication mode desired to be used by the user of the mobile station. receiving, at the mobile station, a resource indicator message broadcast by the base station, the resource indicator message including a plurality of resource identifiers and indicating a present availability of a plurality of wireless communication resources supported by the base station and identified by the plurality of resource identifiers, each resource identifier identifying an associated wireless communication resource of the plurality of wireless communication resources and corresponding to a communication mode supported by the associated wireless communication resource, wherein the plurality of wireless communication resources support a plurality of communication modes that are usable by a user of the mobile station; storing, in a memory at the mobile station, a file of information indicating a quality level associated with each of the plurality of wireless communication resources; and characterized by when a desired wireless communication resource is indicated as being presently available in the resource indicator message: subsequent to waiting a randomly selected period of time since receiving the resource indicator message, receiving, at the mobile station, a second resource indicator message broadcast from the base station; and when the second resource indicator message indicates the desired wireless communication resource is presently available, transmitting, from the mobile station to the base station on a random access channel, a request to access at least the desired wireless communication resource, wherein the desired wireless communication resource supports a communication mode desired to be used by the user of the mobile station. subsequent to waiting a randomly selected period of time since receiving the resource indicator message, receiving, at the mobile station, a second resource indicator message broadcast from the base station; and when the second resource indicator message indicates the desired wireless communication resource is presently available, transmitting, from the mobile station to the base station on a random access channel, a request to access at least the desired wireless communication resource, wherein the desired wireless communication resource supports a communication mode desired to be used by the user of the mobile station.