diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/connectivity/Tethering.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/connectivity/Tethering.java
index 1bbbededbd868..16570dbc12de3 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/connectivity/Tethering.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/connectivity/Tethering.java
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ import com.android.internal.util.StateMachine;
 import com.android.server.connectivity.tethering.IControlsTethering;
 import com.android.server.connectivity.tethering.IPv6TetheringCoordinator;
 import com.android.server.connectivity.tethering.IPv6TetheringInterfaceServices;
+import com.android.server.connectivity.tethering.OffloadController;
 import com.android.server.connectivity.tethering.TetheringConfiguration;
 import com.android.server.connectivity.tethering.TetherInterfaceStateMachine;
 import com.android.server.connectivity.tethering.UpstreamNetworkMonitor;
@@ -145,6 +146,7 @@ public class Tethering extends BaseNetworkObserver implements IControlsTethering
             .getSystem().getString(com.android.internal.R.string.config_wifi_tether_enable));
 
     private final StateMachine mTetherMasterSM;
+    private final OffloadController mOffloadController;
     private final UpstreamNetworkMonitor mUpstreamNetworkMonitor;
     private String mCurrentUpstreamIface;
 
@@ -175,6 +177,7 @@ public class Tethering extends BaseNetworkObserver implements IControlsTethering
         mTetherMasterSM = new TetherMasterSM("TetherMaster", mLooper);
         mTetherMasterSM.start();
 
+        mOffloadController = new OffloadController(mTetherMasterSM.getHandler());
         mUpstreamNetworkMonitor = new UpstreamNetworkMonitor(
                 mContext, mTetherMasterSM, TetherMasterSM.EVENT_UPSTREAM_CALLBACK);
 
@@ -1203,6 +1206,7 @@ public class Tethering extends BaseNetworkObserver implements IControlsTethering
 
             protected void handleNewUpstreamNetworkState(NetworkState ns) {
                 mIPv6TetheringCoordinator.updateUpstreamNetworkState(ns);
+                mOffloadController.setUpstreamLinkProperties(ns.linkProperties);
             }
         }
 
@@ -1359,12 +1363,14 @@ public class Tethering extends BaseNetworkObserver implements IControlsTethering
         class TetherModeAliveState extends TetherMasterUtilState {
             final SimChangeListener simChange = new SimChangeListener(mContext);
             boolean mTryCell = true;
+
             @Override
             public void enter() {
                 // TODO: examine if we should check the return value.
                 turnOnMasterTetherSettings(); // may transition us out
                 simChange.startListening();
                 mUpstreamNetworkMonitor.start();
+                mOffloadController.start();
 
                 // Better try something first pass or crazy tests cases will fail.
                 chooseUpstreamType(true);
@@ -1373,6 +1379,7 @@ public class Tethering extends BaseNetworkObserver implements IControlsTethering
 
             @Override
             public void exit() {
+                mOffloadController.stop();
                 unrequestUpstreamMobileConnection();
                 mUpstreamNetworkMonitor.stop();
                 simChange.stopListening();
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/connectivity/tethering/OffloadController.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/connectivity/tethering/OffloadController.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..220e7514facc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/connectivity/tethering/OffloadController.java
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2017 The Android Open Source Project
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package com.android.server.connectivity.tethering;
+
+import android.net.LinkProperties;
+import android.os.Handler;
+import android.util.Log;
+
+/**
+ * A wrapper around hardware offload interface.
+ *
+ * @hide
+ */
+public class OffloadController {
+    private static final String TAG = OffloadController.class.getSimpleName();
+
+    private final Handler mHandler;
+    private LinkProperties mUpstreamLinkProperties;
+
+    public OffloadController(Handler h) {
+        mHandler = h;
+    }
+
+    public void start() {
+        // TODO: initOffload() and configure callbacks to be handled on our
+        // preferred Handler.
+        Log.d(TAG, "tethering offload not supported");
+    }
+
+    public void stop() {
+        // TODO: stopOffload().
+        mUpstreamLinkProperties = null;
+    }
+
+    public void setUpstreamLinkProperties(LinkProperties lp) {
+        // TODO: setUpstreamParameters().
+        mUpstreamLinkProperties = lp;
+    }
+}