An approach for minimizing response times in transporting traffic over a packet radio communication system is disclosed. A terminal transmits a packet resource request message that specifies user terminal information using a contention channel according to a prescribed protocol. A gateway station receives the packet resource request message and transmits an assignment message that specifies a channel assignment based upon the user terminal information, wherein the terminal is configured to transmit the packets over a channel is based on the channel assignment. This approach has particular applicability to a satellite communication system.