Techniques are discussed herein for efficiently supporting broadcast of location assistance data (AD) in a wireless network to assist in locating a user equipment (UE). A location server (LS) may send some location AD, which may be optionally ciphered, to base stations for broadcast in cells supported by the base stations. Capability information provided by a UE to the LS indicating a level of support by the UE for receiving broadcast AD and supporting ciphering may enable the LS to determine whether, and what type of, additional AD needs to be sent to the UE by point to point means. An LS may use capability information received from a large number of UEs to assist in determining the types of location assistance data to be broadcast and usage of ciphering.