Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. One or more multiple access-capable user equipments (UEs) may be grouped together for transmitting uplink multiple access communications to a base station, where the UEs may be assigned to the group based on similar capabilities or service requirements. The UE may receive configuration information based at least in part on the group to which the UE has been assigned. When assigned to a group, the UEs may also receive a group-specific scrambling code for the uplink multiple access communications, a group-specific power control for the uplink multiple access communications, time and frequency resources to be used for the uplink multiple access communications specific to the group, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the specific time and frequency resources may be defined by multiple access resource units.