Blind selection of a multi-frequency band indicator (MFBI) channel is disclosed. The crowded wireless spectrum can comprise overlapping bands, e.g., LTE bands 17 and 12. Whereas current standards allow setting the E-UTRA frequency to only one absolute radio-frequency channel number, alternative channel information can be distributed via SIB message. However, where a UE cannot read the MFBI information in a SIB message, the UE can be ignorant of a channel in an alternative band. Channel information for an alternative band can be sent to the UE as part of a radio resource control RRC message, for example, comprising a dEUTRACarrierFreqInfo value. The RRC connection release message can cause the UE to release a connection and then reestablish a new connection based on the channel information for then alternative band. This can allow mobile devices that do not support MFBI via SIB, to access channels in MFBI-type bands.