A method and a communication device for accessing a communication system are disclosed. The method includes determining that an application requesting access to the communication system requires preferred access to the communication system and requesting access to the communication system using a least preferred access channel from a preferred roaming list comprising a plurality of access channels. An access node of a communication system is further disclosed. The access node includes a processor to determine whether the communication system supports a preferred access to the communication system by at least one authorized communication device of the plurality of communication devices, and transmit an indication that the communication system supports the preferred access to the communication system by the at least one authorized communication device.