A system and method are presented for expediting acquisition of an operating channel in a wireless communications telephone device. The method activates a wireless communications telephone device and identifies the wireless device geographical location. The method correlates a Number Assignment Module (NAM) with geographical location information and selects the NAM. The method also correlates a predetermined group of channels in a Priority Roaming List (PRL) in the selected NAM with geographical location information and selects the channel group. The method scans channels in the PRL beginning with channels in the selected channel group.