systems and methods for routing protocols for power line communications are described . in some embodiments , a method may include transmitting a one - hop broadcast request message to a plurality of plc devices in a mesh network and receiving a response from each of the devices . the method may also include selecting one of the devices as a bootstrapping agent , sending a join request to a bootstrapping server through the bootstrapping agent , and , in response to successfully joining the network , setting the bootstrapping agent as a next hop toward a bootstrapping server . in another embodiment , a method may include maintaining a routing table for a plurality of plc devices in a mesh network , receiving a join request from a plc device , accepting the request , and updating the table to add a record corresponding to the plc device ; the record setting the bootstrapping agent as a penultimate hop toward the plc device .