out of a regional port called taxi and then out of courtesy as the controller was busy (BN CEN) called "ABC departure YXXX" the controller got back "standby there might be a delay on clearance due crossing traffic"
CLL was 8500 and the APA was set to 8500 as a result of this. Called approaching this level as had the crossing traffic on TCAS about 10 miles long gone and the controller came back "ABC you nearly busted control airspace you are now cleared on climb etc etc"
We informed him that it was company policy to set CLL in the APA and he came back angrily perhaps best to cruise at ifr levels...we put his aggravation down to the end of a long shift. perhaps a case of he forgot about us....we were operating under a IFR RPT plan....
thoughts........