A radio access system receives packets from a local source of streaming media content via a local connection and from remote packet sources via a remote network. The radio access system communicates with a subscriber station via an air interface that includes an uplink and a downlink. A packet classifier in the radio access system maps packets having the subscriber station's IP address as destination address to the subscriber station's downlink. The subscriber station communicates with a content controller via the remote network to request selected streaming media content. The content controller instructs the radio access system to convey the selected streaming media content from the local source to the subscriber station. In response, the packet classifier maps the packets containing the selected streaming media content to a downlink (either the original downlink or a new one) for transmission to the subscriber station.