A method and apparatus for a wireless communication system, sends an initial connection request with the device capabilities of an indicated mobile station. The device capabilities comprise both semi-static capabilities and dynamic capabilities. The semi-static capabilities are stored in the core network. Data is transmitted via a wireless node before the mobile station transitions to an idle state. When transitioning back to an active state from the idle state when the semi-static capabilities have not changed, a connection request is sent with the dynamic capabilities of the user equipment without also transmitting the semi-static mobile station capabilities to the wireless node.