A terminal is assigned an active identifier for use while in an active state of a connection with a base station. The base station periodically broadcasts the status of the active identifiers for that base station, e.g., via status validation bits that indicate whether each active identifier is currently assigned to a terminal or not assigned to any terminal. The base station may also broadcast the identity (e.g., a scrambling mask) of the terminal assigned with each active identifier that is currently in use. If a terminal believes that it is assigned a particular active identifier, then the terminal checks the status validation bit for this active identifier. If this status validation bit indicates that the active identifier is currently in use, then the terminal may further check the scrambling mask sent for the active identifier in order to determine whether the terminal is actually assigned the active identifier.