In this work we analyze the possibilities which are brought about by the use of linear programming techniques in the framework of access selection procedures within heterogeneous wireless network environments. We present a tool which has been designed and implemented (based on the GLPK package) to tackle this problem. This tool, starting from a particular network model, can be used to retrieve the optimum assignment of access elements. To fulfil this goal, we introduce a flexible cost (utility) function, which allows modulating the relevance given to the different aspects which could be taken into consideration while deciding the access alternative to be used: connection with a preferred operator, minimizing the number of handovers, or link quality, amongst others. Afterwards, the tools is used to study a set of canonical access selection strategies, so as to establish the combination of parameters which might lead to better performances. © 2011 ICST Institute for Computer Science, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.