A method of specifying one or more sets of one or more physical resource block (PRB) pairs from among a plurality of PRB pairs in a subframe that a user equipment (UE) is to monitor for an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) includes sending, from a base station, a first representation of the PRB blocks, the representation including a plurality of bits, a total number of the plurality of bits being less than a product of total number of the plurality of PRB pairs and a total number of the one or more sets, the first representation indicating which of the plurality of PRB pairs are in at least one of the one or more sets of one or more PRB pairs the UE is to monitor for the EPDCCH.