Techniques are described for wireless communication. A first method includes winning a contention for access to an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, and transmitting at least a portion of a channel usage beacon signal (CUBS) over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band. The at least portion of the CUBS is transmitted in a number of frequency interlaces of the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band. A second method includes winning a contention for access to an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band; determining whether the contention is won within a threshold time before a next symbol period boundary; and transmitting at least a portion of a CUBS over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band. The at least portion of the CUBS is transmitted during a preamble including a fractional period of a first symbol period. The at least portion of the CUBS may be based at least in part on the determining.