1. In a cellular communication system in which a mobile user communicates through a mobile station with other users via at least one base station included in an active list of one or more base station entries, wherein each of a plurality of base stations within said system transmit a unique pilot signal, a method for identifying ones of said base stations from which received signal strength is sufficient to establish communication with said mobile station, said method comprising the steps of: maintaining in said mobile station a candidate list of base station entries, wherein each entry in said candidate list corresponds to a base station capable of providing sufficient signal strength to establish communication with said mobile station wherein said active list of one or more base station entries is maintained within said mobile station and is derived from said candidate list of base station entries; maintaining in said mobile station a neighbor list of base station entries, wherein each entry in said neighbor list corresponds to a base station in a predetermined proximity of said mobile station; measuring at said mobile station signal strength of each said pilot signal transmitted by each of said base stations in said neighbor list; comparing at said mobile station said base station signal strength measurements of each of said neighbor list entries to a first predetermined level; and removing by said mobile station a particular entry from said neighbor list having said base station signal strength measurement greater than said first predetermined level and placing said particular entry in a pre-candidate list maintained in said mobile station, wherein said entries in said pre-candidate list correspond to a set of base stations from which are derived said candidate list of base station entries.