Performing load balancing by a wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, includes the WTRU evaluating a current cell load value and, on a condition that the current cell load value is greater than a predetermined threshold, performing load balancing by barring the current cell. The current cell load value may be a number of consecutive failed RACH access attempts. Other embodiments teach a method to identify a machine type communication, MTC, device, a method to restrict access to a group of MTC devices, a method to restrict access to a particular MTC device, a method to control congestion, and a method for MTC device prioritization.