Technology for an enhanced Node B (eNB) operable to map an enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH) to physical resource blocks in a radio frame is disclosed. The eNB can map modulated symbols in the ePDCCH to at least one control channel element (CCE). The eNB can map the at least one CCE to resource elements located in a plurality of physical resource blocks that are distributed in a subframe. The eNB can apply the mapping to control data for scheduling to form an ePDCCH. The eNB can process the ePDCCH for communication to a user equipment (UE).