AT&T and T-Mobile USA have filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to transfer US$1 billion-worth of spectrum, reports the Wall Street Journal. AT&T promised to hand over the spectrum if the proposed US$39 billion merger of the two operators failed, along with US$3 billion in cash to T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom. AT&T pulled out of the deal in December last year as opposition from the FCC, US Justice Department and rival operators mounted.