Techniques are provided for control signaling and channel selection in cognitive Long Term Evolution (LTE). In one example, there is provided a method, operable by a mobile entity, that involves receiving, on a licensed channel, broadcasted channel usage information regarding at least one unlicensed channel used by one or more network nodes. The method further involves: performing a cell search procedure based at least in part on the channel usage information to select a given network node among the one or more network nodes; determining at least one random access parameter to be used in establishing wireless communication with the given network node, the at least one random access parameter being associated with a characteristic of the user device and determining a preferred downlink channel.