An unlicensed wireless spectrum access point control circuit receives a first identifier from a first network entity and also receives a second identifier from a second network entity and then compares the late the first identifier to the second identifier to thereby authenticate the second network entity. By one approach the first and second identifier are medium access control (MAC) addresses. By one approach the first network entity comprises an Evolved Node-B base station in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) Radio Access Network and the second network entity comprises a portable wireless device. Upon authenticating the second network entity, the control circuit can then allow user plane data traffic.