Techniques for supporting UE operation with enhanced uplink are described. A UE may select a first signature from a first set of signatures available for random access for enhanced uplink, generate an access preamble based on the first signature, and send the access preamble for random access while operating in an inactive state. The UE may receive an acquisition indicator (AI) for the first signature on an acquisition indicator channel (AICH) from a Node B. The UE may use a default enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) resource configuration for the first signature if the AI has a first predetermined value. The UE may determine an E-DCH resource configuration allocated to the UE based on an extended acquisition indicator (EAI) and a second signature if the AI has a second predetermined value. In any case, the UE may send data to the Node B using the allocated E-DCH resource configuration.