In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method includes receiving a connection request in uplink signaling from a user equipment, the user equipment being located in a cell; making a determination whether the user equipment can be connected and, if it is determined that the user equipment cannot be connected, informing the user equipment by downlink signaling, as a response to the connection request, that the user equipment cannot be connected. The downlink signaling includes information that indicates that the user equipment should de-prioritize a current carrier frequency or current radio access technology, and can further include a timer value to indicate a period of time for which the current carrier frequency or current radio access technology is to be de-prioritized. The method can be executed by an evolved NodeB (eNB) of an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN).