Abstract: Techniques are described for controlling the data rate of individual or groups of client devices in a network such as a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). In one aspect, a method may include grouping a plurality of client devices into at least one group, the grouping being unassociated with a traffic class of the plurality of client devices. The method may also include determining channel characteristic thresholds, such as one or more of a bandwidth threshold, message size threshold, throughput threshold, or an optional service requirement, for the at least one group of client devices, and controlling a data rate for the at least one group of client devices based at least in part on the determined channel characteristic thresholds. In some aspects, different channel characteristic thresholds may be applied to uplink and/or downlink communications with the client device.