Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that facilitates generating one or more tuning signals supplied to a material positioned along a portion of an inner surface of a structure of the waveguide system, the material facilitating generation of electromagnetic waves having a desired wave mode, and generating an electromagnetic wave with the desired wave mode, the electromagnetic wave propagating along a transmission medium without relying on an electrical return path to facilitate propagation of the electromagnetic wave along the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.