A method executed by an access point for selecting a primary communication channel for a wireless communication system, the method comprising: scanning a set of channels, each channel in the set having a first bandwidth; determining whether one or more channels in the set of channels are not being utilized by one or more other wireless communication systems; when it is determined that one or more channels in the set of channels are not being utilized by one or more other wireless communication systems, selecting a channel from the one or more channels not being utilized as the primary channel for the wireless communication system; and when it is determined that all channels in the set of channels are being utilized by one or more other wireless communication systems, selecting, as the primary channel of the wireless communication system, a channel in the set having an upper or lower edge that is aligned with an upper or lower edge, respectively, of a primary channel of another wireless communication system, the primary channel of the other wireless communication system having a second bandwidth, wherein the second bandwidth is a fraction of the first bandwidth or wherein the second bandwidth is greater than the first bandwidth, or selecting, as the primary channel of the wireless communication system, a channel in the set that overlaps with a secondary channel of another wireless communication system, wherein the secondary channel of the other wireless communication system has a bandwidth greater than the first bandwidth, wherein the primary and secondary channels form a composite channel. scanning a set of channels, each channel in the set having a first bandwidth; determining whether one or more channels in the set of channels are not being utilized by one or more other wireless communication systems; when it is determined that one or more channels in the set of channels are not being utilized by one or more other wireless communication systems, selecting a channel from the one or more channels not being utilized as the primary channel for the wireless communication system; and when it is determined that all channels in the set of channels are being utilized by one or more other wireless communication systems, selecting, as the primary channel of the wireless communication system, a channel in the set having an upper or lower edge that is aligned with an upper or lower edge, respectively, of a primary channel of another wireless communication system, the primary channel of the other wireless communication system having a second bandwidth, wherein the second bandwidth is a fraction of the first bandwidth or wherein the second bandwidth is greater than the first bandwidth, or selecting, as the primary channel of the wireless communication system, a channel in the set that overlaps with a secondary channel of another wireless communication system, wherein the secondary channel of the other wireless communication system has a bandwidth greater than the first bandwidth, selecting, as the primary channel of the wireless communication system, a channel in the set having an upper or lower edge that is aligned with an upper or lower edge, respectively, of a primary channel of another wireless communication system, the primary channel of the other wireless communication system having a second bandwidth, wherein the second bandwidth is a fraction of the first bandwidth or wherein the second bandwidth is greater than the first bandwidth, or selecting, as the primary channel of the wireless communication system, a channel in the set that overlaps with a secondary channel of another wireless communication system, wherein the secondary channel of the other wireless communication system has a bandwidth greater than the first bandwidth, wherein the primary and secondary channels form a composite channel.