A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for processing a machine-to-machine communication. For example, the method receives a request for transmission of the machine-to-machine communication in the communications network, wherein the machine-to-machine communication is between two dedicated machines operated by a customer of the communications network, determines an overall priority of the request, wherein the overall priority is based on a plurality of priority parameters, wherein the plurality of priority parameters comprises at least two of: a level of delivery service priority, a customer type priority, a location type priority, a sensor type priority, a registration status priority, a transmission status priority, and a bearer establishment priority, and transmits the machine-to-machine communication over the communications network to a destination, wherein the transmitting is based on the overall priority.