Abstract: Systems and methods provide for controlling contention in a wireless network device. The systems and methods transmit a packet on a wireless network. If the transmission is not successful, then a contention window parameter is adjusted according to a fast backoff operation. If the packet transmission was successful and the current value of the contention window parameter is less than a threshold value then the contention window parameter is decreased according to a contention avoidance operation. If the packet transmission is successful and the current value of the contention window parameter is greater than the threshold value then the contention window parameter is decreased according to a slow start operation.