A method of localized congestion exposure within a local loop in a cellular network that is performed by a localized congestion exposure sender node of the local loop. The method includes receiving downlink packets that are destined for a downstream user device. The method also includes receiving packets that have feedback indicating a congestion level from a downstream node of the cellular network. The method further includes inserting a declaration of an expected downstream congestion level into headers of the received downlink packets; and forwarding the downlink packets that have the declaration of the expected downstream congestion level inserted into the headers toward the downstream user device.