A system and method in a wireless communication device for receiving a System Identification Number (SID) from multiple wireless carriers operating within communication range of the wireless communication device, determining a signal quality level associated with each of the wireless carriers, determining a preference level for each of the wireless carriers based on a Preferred Roaming List (PRL), and selecting one of the wireless carriers based on the signal quality level of each wireless carrier and based further on the preference level for each wireless carrier.