Method and apparatus for sending and receiving information on a wireless network

An apparatus comprising:

• a controller that controls operations of the apparatus, where the controller
• establishes a radio resource control connection with a wireless wide area network base station to enter a radio resource control connected state, and
• prioritizes sending a special priority bearer other than a medium access control control element over sending a medium access control control element used for power headroom reporting;
• and
• a transceiver coupled to the controller, where the transceiver sends the special priority bearer while in the radio resource control connected state.

A method comprising:

• establishing, by a user equipment, a radio resource control connection with a wireless wide area network base station to enter a radio resource control connected state;
• prioritizing, in a logical channel prioritization procedure, sending an uplink-dedicated control channel message requesting system information over sending a medium access control control element used for power headroom reporting;
• and
• sending, by the user equipment, the uplink-dedicated control channel message requesting system information while in the radio resource control connected state.