Techniques are described for wireless communication. One method includes determining that a cell operates in a shared access radio frequency spectrum, and transmitting signaling information to a mobile device indicating that the cell is prohibited from serving as a primary serving cell based at least in part on the determination that the cell operates in the shared access radio frequency spectrum. Another method includes receiving signaling information at a mobile device from a base station indicating that a cell operating in a shared access radio frequency spectrum is prohibited from serving as a primary serving cell, and identifying the cell as prohibited from serving as a primary serving cell based at least in part on the received signaling information. Another method includes identifying, by a mobile device, a cell operating in a shared access radio frequency spectrum as a secondary serving cell based at least in part on information stored on the mobile device.