A transmitting device may determine a physical layer transmission properties based upon an amount of data to transmit via a communications channel. The physical layer transmission properties may comprise a derated tone map that has a lower physical layer transmission throughput capability than an original tone map. An indication regarding the derated tone map may be included in a first message, a portion of a physical layer framing protocol, a physical layer control transmission (such as a frame control symbol), or other transmissions such that the receiving device can derive the derated tone map without significant added overhead.