A personal base station (38) includes a transceiver (38b,38c) coupled to an antenna (38d) for conducting bidirectional wireless communications with a mobile station (10); an interface (38g) to a telephone line; and a controller (38a) that includes a circuit (38f) for sensing that the telephone line is not available for use. The controller is responsive to the telephone line not being available for use for notifying a mobile station that the mobile station is to register with a cellular communication system (32). In a preferred embodiment of this invention the sensing circuit is operable to discriminate between a disconnection of the telephone line and the use of the telephone line. In the first case the disconnect message may be sent immediately, while in the latter case the disconnect message may be sent after some predetermined time delay. In one embodiment the controller formats and transmits a message to the mobile station for notifying the mobile station that the mobile station is to register with the cellular communication system, while in another embodiment the controller terminates a transmission of an RF carrier signal to the mobile station for notifying the mobile station that the mobile station is to register with the cellular communication system. Methods for operating the personal base station are also disclosed.