A fast feedback mechanism is provided in a contention-based ranging procedure. A Subscriber Station (SS) initializes a ranging procedure by sending a ranging code on a selected ranging opportunity for resource access to a Base Station (BS) on a shared ranging channel in a previous uplink frame. The SS also starts a time associated with the ranging code. In response to all received ranging opportunities, the BS broadcasts an acknowledgement (ACK) in a subsequent downlink frame. The ACK comprises a reception status message that indicates the decoding status of the ranging opportunities. With the novel fast feedback mechanism, when ranging collision or failure occurs, upon receiving the reception status report, the SS will proceed with the next round of contention without continuing wait for the entire timeout period. As a result, the total latency due to the ranging collision or failure is reduced.