diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d189cb04..6df81f4d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 Version 217:
 
 * websocket idle pings
+* RatePolicy documentation
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/doc/qbk/07_concepts/0_concepts.qbk b/doc/qbk/07_concepts/0_concepts.qbk
index 11c9c4db..f70b5565 100644
--- a/doc/qbk/07_concepts/0_concepts.qbk
+++ b/doc/qbk/07_concepts/0_concepts.qbk
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ This section describes all of the concepts defined by the library.
 [include Fields.qbk]
 [include FieldsWriter.qbk]
 [include File.qbk]
+[include RatePolicy.qbk]
 [include Streams.qbk]
 
 [endsect]
diff --git a/doc/qbk/07_concepts/RatePolicy.qbk b/doc/qbk/07_concepts/RatePolicy.qbk
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..80a4cef8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/qbk/07_concepts/RatePolicy.qbk
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+[/
+    Copyright (c) 2019 Vinnie Falco (vinnie dot falco at gmail dot com)
+
+    Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying
+    file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
+
+    Official repository: https://github.com/boostorg/beast
+]
+
+[section:RatePolicy RatePolicy]
+
+An instance of [*RatePolicy] is associated with a
+[link beast.ref.boost__beast__basic_stream `basic_stream`],
+and controls the rate at which bytes may be independently sent and
+received. This may be used to achieve fine-grained bandwidth management
+and flow control.
+
+[heading Associated Types]
+
+* [link beast.ref.boost__beast__rate_policy_access `rate_policy_access`]
+
+[warning
+    These requirements may undergo non-backward compatible
+    changes in subsequent versions.
+]
+
+[heading Requirements]
+
+In this table:
+
+* `P` denotes a type that meets the requirements of [*RatePolicy].
+* `x` denotes an xvalue of type `P`
+* `a` denotes a value of type `P`.
+* `n` denotes a value of type `std::size_t`
+
+[table Valid expressions
+[[Expression] [Type] [Semantics, Pre/Post-conditions]]
+[
+    [`P a(x)`]
+    []
+    [
+        Requires ['MoveConstructible].
+    ]
+][
+    [`friend rate_policy_access`]
+    []
+    [
+        The member functions required in `P` should be private.
+        [link beast.ref.boost__beast__rate_policy_access `rate_policy_access`]
+        must be a friend of `P` for the implementation to gain access
+        to the required member functions.
+    ]
+][
+    [`a.available_read_bytes()`]
+    [`std::size_t`]
+    [
+        This function is called by the implementation to determine
+        the maximum number of allowed bytes to be transferred
+        in the next read operation. The actual number of bytes
+        subsequently transferred may be less than this number.
+        
+        If the policy returns a value of zero, the read operation
+        will asynchronously wait until the next timer interval
+        before retrying. When the retry occurs, this function will
+        be called again.
+    ]
+][
+    [`a.available_write_bytes()`]
+    [`std::size_t`]
+    [
+        This function is called by the implementation to determine
+        the maximum number of allowed bytes to be transferred
+        in the next write operation. The actual number of bytes
+        subsequently transferred may be less than this number.
+        
+        If the policy returns a value of zero, the read operation
+        will asynchronously wait until the next timer interval
+        before retrying. When the retry occurs, this function will
+        be called again.
+    ]
+][
+    [`a.transfer_read_bytes(n)`]
+    []
+    [
+        The implementation calls this function to inform the
+        policy that `n` bytes were successfully transferred
+        in the most recent read operation. The policy object
+        may optionally use this information to calculate
+        throughputs and/or inform the algorithm used to
+        determine subsequently queried transfer maximums.
+    ]
+][
+    [`a.transfer_write_bytes(n)`]
+    []
+    [
+        The implementation calls this function to inform the
+        policy that `n` bytes were successfully transferred
+        in the most recent write operation. The policy object
+        may optionally use this information to calculate
+        throughputs and/or inform the algorithm used to
+        determine subsequently queried transfer limits.
+    ]
+][
+    [`a.on_timer()`]
+    []
+    [
+        The implementation calls this function every time the
+        internal timer expires. The policy object may optionally
+        use this opportunity to calculate elapsed time and
+        throughput, and/or inform the algorithm used to
+        determine subsequently queried transfer limits.
+    ]
+]]
+
+[heading Exemplar]
+
+[concept_RatePolicy]
+
+[heading Models]
+
+* [link beast.ref.boost__beast__simple_rate_policy `simple_rate_policy`]
+* [link beast.ref.boost__beast__unlimited_rate_policy `unlimited_rate_policy`]
+
+[endsect]
diff --git a/doc/qbk/main.qbk b/doc/qbk/main.qbk
index 2f6a91c5..1fd2fceb 100644
--- a/doc/qbk/main.qbk
+++ b/doc/qbk/main.qbk
@@ -134,6 +134,8 @@
 [import ../../test/doc/core_3_layers.cpp]
 [import ../../test/doc/websocket_3_handshake.cpp]
 
+[import ../../test/beast/core/rate_policy.cpp]
+
 [section:quickref Reference]
 '''
 <emphasis role="green">&#128946;</emphasis> indicates an item that is new in this version.
diff --git a/doc/qbk/quickref.xml b/doc/qbk/quickref.xml
index 96b8c780..b572d09c 100644
--- a/doc/qbk/quickref.xml
+++ b/doc/qbk/quickref.xml
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@
         <simplelist type="vert" columns="1">
           <member><link linkend="beast.concepts.streams.AsyncStream">AsyncStream</link></member>
           <member><link linkend="beast.concepts.File">File</link></member>
+          <member><link linkend="beast.concepts.RatePolicy">RatePolicy</link>&nbsp;<emphasis role="green">&#128946;</emphasis></member>
           <member><link linkend="beast.concepts.streams.Stream">Stream</link></member>
           <member><link linkend="beast.concepts.streams.SyncStream">SyncStream</link></member>
         </simplelist>
diff --git a/doc/xsl/class_detail.xsl b/doc/xsl/class_detail.xsl
index 70cff029..69f2dc0b 100644
--- a/doc/xsl/class_detail.xsl
+++ b/doc/xsl/class_detail.xsl
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@
     <xsl:when test="type = 'class RangeConnectHandler'">
       <xsl:text>class __RangeConnectHandler__</xsl:text>
     </xsl:when>
+    <xsl:when test="type = 'class RatePolicy'">
+      <xsl:text>class ``[link beast.concepts.RatePolicy [*RatePolicy]]``</xsl:text>
+    </xsl:when>
     <xsl:when test="declname = 'ReadHandler' or type = 'class ReadHandler'">
       <xsl:text>class __ReadHandler__</xsl:text>
     </xsl:when>
diff --git a/include/boost/beast/core/basic_stream.hpp b/include/boost/beast/core/basic_stream.hpp
index ab593c33..d7b670d1 100644
--- a/include/boost/beast/core/basic_stream.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/beast/core/basic_stream.hpp
@@ -239,7 +239,12 @@ private:
 
         template<class... Args>
         explicit
-        impl_type(Args&&...);
+        impl_type(std::false_type, Args&&...);
+
+        template<class RatePolicy_, class... Args>
+        explicit
+        impl_type(std::true_type,
+            RatePolicy_&& policy, Args&&...);
 
         impl_type& operator=(impl_type&&) = delete;
 
@@ -317,9 +322,43 @@ public:
         @param args A list of parameters forwarded to the constructor of
         the underlying socket.
     */
+#if BOOST_BEAST_DOXYGEN
     template<class... Args>
     explicit
     basic_stream(Args&&... args);
+#else
+    template<class Arg0, class... Args,
+        class = typename std::enable_if<
+        ! std::is_constructible<RatePolicy, Arg0>::value>::type>
+    explicit
+    basic_stream(Arg0&& argo, Args&&... args);
+#endif
+
+    /** Constructor
+
+        This constructor creates the stream with the specified rate
+        policy, and forwards all remaining arguments to the underlying
+        socket. The socket then needs to be open and connected or
+        accepted before data can be sent or received on it.
+
+        @param policy The rate policy object to use. The stream will
+        take ownership of this object by decay-copy.
+
+        @param args A list of parameters forwarded to the constructor of
+        the underlying socket.
+    */
+#if BOOST_BEAST_DOXYGEN
+    template<class RatePolicy_, class... Args>
+    explicit
+    basic_stream(RatePolicy_&& policy, Args&&... args);
+#else
+    template<class RatePolicy_, class Arg0, class... Args,
+        class = typename std::enable_if<
+            std::is_constructible<
+                RatePolicy, RatePolicy_>::value>::type>
+    basic_stream(
+        RatePolicy_&& policy, Arg0&& arg, Args&&... args);
+#endif
 
     /** Move constructor
 
diff --git a/include/boost/beast/core/impl/basic_stream.hpp b/include/boost/beast/core/impl/basic_stream.hpp
index 9db330ee..3c1d56ea 100644
--- a/include/boost/beast/core/impl/basic_stream.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/beast/core/impl/basic_stream.hpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ template<class Protocol, class Executor, class RatePolicy>
 template<class... Args>
 basic_stream<Protocol, Executor, RatePolicy>::
 impl_type::
-impl_type(Args&&... args)
+impl_type(std::false_type, Args&&... args)
     : socket(std::forward<Args>(args)...)
     , read(ex())
     , write(ex())
@@ -42,6 +42,23 @@ impl_type(Args&&... args)
     reset();
 }
 
+template<class Protocol, class Executor, class RatePolicy>
+template<class RatePolicy_, class... Args>
+basic_stream<Protocol, Executor, RatePolicy>::
+impl_type::
+impl_type(std::true_type,
+    RatePolicy_&& policy, Args&&... args)
+    : boost::empty_value<RatePolicy>(
+        boost::empty_init_t{},
+        std::forward<RatePolicy_>(policy))
+    , socket(std::forward<Args>(args)...)
+    , read(ex())
+    , write(ex())
+    , timer(ex())
+{
+    reset();
+}
+
 template<class Protocol, class Executor, class RatePolicy>
 template<class Executor2>
 void
@@ -650,10 +667,25 @@ basic_stream<Protocol, Executor, RatePolicy>::
 }
 
 template<class Protocol, class Executor, class RatePolicy>
-template<class... Args>
+template<class Arg0, class... Args, class>
 basic_stream<Protocol, Executor, RatePolicy>::
-basic_stream(Args&&... args)
+basic_stream(Arg0&& arg0, Args&&... args)
     : impl_(boost::make_shared<impl_type>(
+        std::false_type{},
+        std::forward<Arg0>(arg0),
+        std::forward<Args>(args)...))
+{
+}
+
+template<class Protocol, class Executor, class RatePolicy>
+template<class RatePolicy_, class Arg0, class... Args, class>
+basic_stream<Protocol, Executor, RatePolicy>::
+basic_stream(
+    RatePolicy_&& policy, Arg0&& arg0, Args&&... args)
+    : impl_(boost::make_shared<impl_type>(
+        std::true_type{},
+        std::forward<RatePolicy_>(policy),
+        std::forward<Arg0>(arg0),
         std::forward<Args>(args)...))
 {
 }
diff --git a/include/boost/beast/core/rate_policy.hpp b/include/boost/beast/core/rate_policy.hpp
index 49876318..c9b4230b 100644
--- a/include/boost/beast/core/rate_policy.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/beast/core/rate_policy.hpp
@@ -102,36 +102,35 @@ private:
 */
 class unlimited_rate_policy
 {
+    friend class rate_policy_access;
+
     static std::size_t constexpr all =
         (std::numeric_limits<std::size_t>::max)();
 
-private:
-    friend class rate_policy_access;
-
     std::size_t
-    available_read_bytes()
+    available_read_bytes() const noexcept
     {
         return all;
     }
 
     std::size_t
-    available_write_bytes()
+    available_write_bytes() const noexcept
     {
         return all;
     }
 
     void
-    transfer_read_bytes(std::size_t)
+    transfer_read_bytes(std::size_t) const noexcept
     {
     }
 
     void
-    transfer_write_bytes(std::size_t)
+    transfer_write_bytes(std::size_t) const noexcept
     {
     }
 
     void
-    on_timer()
+    on_timer() const noexcept
     {
     }
 };
@@ -162,13 +161,13 @@ class simple_rate_policy
     std::size_t wr_limit_ = all;
 
     std::size_t
-    available_read_bytes()
+    available_read_bytes() const noexcept
     {
         return rd_remain_;
     }
 
     std::size_t
-    available_write_bytes()
+    available_write_bytes() const noexcept
     {
         return wr_remain_;
     }
diff --git a/test/beast/core/basic_stream.cpp b/test/beast/core/basic_stream.cpp
index cddb0caa..147e4cfa 100644
--- a/test/beast/core/basic_stream.cpp
+++ b/test/beast/core/basic_stream.cpp
@@ -417,6 +417,34 @@ public:
             opt = false;
             BEAST_EXPECT(! opt.value());
         }
+
+        // rate policies
+
+        {
+            basic_stream<tcp,
+                net::io_context::executor_type,
+                simple_rate_policy> s(ioc);
+        }
+
+        {
+            basic_stream<tcp,
+                net::io_context::executor_type,
+                simple_rate_policy> s(
+                    simple_rate_policy{}, ioc);
+        }
+
+        {
+            basic_stream<tcp,
+                net::io_context::executor_type,
+                unlimited_rate_policy> s(ioc);
+        }
+
+        {
+            basic_stream<tcp,
+                net::io_context::executor_type,
+                unlimited_rate_policy> s(
+                    unlimited_rate_policy{}, ioc);
+        }
     }
 
     class handler
diff --git a/test/beast/core/rate_policy.cpp b/test/beast/core/rate_policy.cpp
index 4f81a5ff..00e0e6c6 100644
--- a/test/beast/core/rate_policy.cpp
+++ b/test/beast/core/rate_policy.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,31 @@
 
 #include <boost/beast/_experimental/unit_test/suite.hpp>
 
+//[concept_RatePolicy
+class RatePolicy
+{
+    friend class rate_policy_access;
+
+    static std::size_t constexpr all =
+        (std::numeric_limits<std::size_t>::max)();
+
+    std::size_t
+    available_read_bytes();
+
+    std::size_t
+    available_write_bytes();
+    
+    void
+    transfer_read_bytes(std::size_t);
+    
+    void
+    transfer_write_bytes(std::size_t);
+
+    void
+    on_timer();
+};
+//]
+
 namespace boost {
 namespace beast {