A method of signaling to enable tethering among wireless devices , the method comprising: receiving, at a master wireless device , assignment information from a wireless communication access point , the assignment information indicating that the master wireless device is designated as a hotspot to provide wireless communication services over a wireless communication network for a slave wireless device ; determining, by the master wireless device , an availability of an open frequency band for wireless communications with the slave wireless device ; communicating, by the master wireless device , an enabling signal to the slave wireless device over the open frequency band based on the availability of the open frequency band, the enabling signal being configured to indicate that the master wireless device is attempting to establish a master/slave connection with the slave wireless device ; receiving, by the master wireless device , a confirmation of receipt of the enabling signal from the slave wireless device ; determining, by the master wireless device , an allocation of a wireless communication resource over the open frequency band for the master wireless device to act as the hotspot for the slave wireless device , the wireless communication resource being allocated for wireless communications between the master wireless device and the slave wireless device and, the determination of the allocation being based on whether a parameter requirement of the wireless communication resource is satisfied by the master wireless device acting as the hotspot for the slave wireless device , wherein the parameter requirement includes one or more of a power requirement and a data rate requirement; and declining, by the master wireless device , to act as a hotspot when the allocation of the wireless communication resource is unsuccessful. receiving, at a master wireless device , assignment information from a wireless communication access point , the assignment information indicating that the master wireless device is designated as a hotspot to provide wireless communication services over a wireless communication network for a slave wireless device ; determining, by the master wireless device , an availability of an open frequency band for wireless communications with the slave wireless device ; communicating, by the master wireless device , an enabling signal to the slave wireless device over the open frequency band based on the availability of the open frequency band, the enabling signal being configured to indicate that the master wireless device is attempting to establish a master/slave connection with the slave wireless device ; receiving, by the master wireless device , a confirmation of receipt of the enabling signal from the slave wireless device ; determining, by the master wireless device , an allocation of a wireless communication resource over the open frequency band for the master wireless device to act as the hotspot for the slave wireless device , the wireless communication resource being allocated for wireless communications between the master wireless device and the slave wireless device and, the determination of the allocation being based on whether a parameter requirement of the wireless communication resource is satisfied by the master wireless device acting as the hotspot for the slave wireless device , wherein the parameter requirement includes one or more of a power requirement and a data rate requirement; and declining, by the master wireless device , to act as a hotspot when the allocation of the wireless communication resource is unsuccessful. <EOS>