The Packet Control Function (PCF) has limited knowledge about the nature of the packet data arriving on a bearer path connected via the Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN), and cannot make an intelligent decision on its own as to how best to handle the packet data. Thus, the PDSN provides bearer-specific information by classifying the priority of received packet data; encapsulating the packet data within the payload of a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) frame; and for high priority packet data i) setting a protocol type field in the header of the GRE frame indicating said packet includes an attribute field; and ii) adding an attribute field to the payload of the GRE packet which provides an indication of said high priority data. Furthermore, the PCF can send an A-11 request to the PDSN indicating the features that the PCF is requesting the PDSN enable. For example, for a short data indication, the PCF would request the PDSN enable adding the attribute field to the GRE frame when an Short Data Burst (SDB) is suitable.