An apparatus and method for communication including determining an assignment for one of a plurality of symbol durations in a format combination; determining if at least one bit from one or more first upper channels is available if the assignment is associated with the one or more first upper channels and occupying the one of the plurality of symbol durations with the at least one bit, or if unavailable, occupying the one of the plurality of symbol durations with at least one bit from one or more second upper channels or another first upper channel, wherein the first upper channels and the second upper channels are different; and disabling transmission of format information; or including enabling a BTFD hypothesis testing mode; receiving one or more symbol durations on a physical channel; and attempting to decode the received symbol duration with a first hypothesis that a DCCH channel is not transmitted.