Technologies for capabilities exchange include a network port logic having a communication link coupled to a remote link partner. The port logic transmits local host loss information to the link partner and receives remote host loss information from the link partner. The port logic may communicate the host loss information via an autonegotiation base page, an autonegotiation next page, or a PMD control frame. The port logic determines total channel loss based on the local host loss, the remote host loss, and cable loss. The port logic may bring the communication link up without forward error correction (FEC) if the total channel loss is less than a FEC limit, may bring the link up with FEC if the total loss is less than a specification limit, or may not bring the link up if the total channel loss is above the specification limit. Other embodiments are described and claimed.