Systems and methods herein determine whether an uplink RACH request and/or an uplink autonomous message will be sent using Discrete Fourier Transform-Spread-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM), Cyclic Prefix Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (CP-OFDM), or another waveform. The determinations may be based on carrier frequencies, path loss measurements, preconfigurations, and/or more. Further, the systems and methods may send the uplink using time and/or frequency resources that correspond to the DFT-S-OFMD waveform, CP-OFDM waveform, or other waveform. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.