An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes a network element coupled to a base station and a network and operating in a WiMAX communications environment. The base station is coupled to an endpoint, the network element defining authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) attributes for the endpoint at an interface between the network element and the base station. In more specific embodiments, the network element defines one or more quality of service attributes for the endpoint and the network element defines a layer two virtual local area network (VLAN) priority/class of service (Cos). In still other embodiments, the network element defines a layer three Internet Protocol differentiated service code point (IP-DSCP). Traffic separation can be specified on a per-subscriber basis or a per service-flow basis and, further, the traffic separation can be executed through a virtual router element.