Provided are methods and apparatus for selecting a channel to use for communicating. The methods and apparatus select a channel having the least interference and minimize a number of different channels in use. For example, a provided method includes calculating a utility value for each channel in a plurality of channels by weighting, based on a number of the neighborhood small cells (NSC) using each channel in the plurality of channels, both a respective modified non-NSC received signal strength indication (RSSI) and a respective modified reference signal received power (RSRP). The non-NSC RSSI is calculated by subtracting a respective RSRP from a total RSSI. The respective modified RSRP for each channel in the plurality of channels is calculated by applying the respective RSRP to a cumulative distribution function. The channel having the highest or the lowest utility value is chosen as the channel to use for the communicating.