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 outer surface of a transmission medium, 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 the transmission medium without relying on an electrical return path to facilitate propagation of the electromagnetic wave along the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.