§  51.611   Interim wholesale rates.

   (a) If a state commission cannot, based on the information available to
   it, establish a wholesale rate using the methodology prescribed in
   § 51.609, then the state commission may elect to establish an interim
   wholesale rate as described in paragraph (b) of this section.

   (b) The state commission may establish interim wholesale rates that are
   at least 17 percent, and no more than 25 percent, below the incumbent
   LEC's existing retail rates, and shall articulate the basis for
   selecting a particular discount rate. The same discount percentage rate
   shall be used to establish interim wholesale rates for each
   telecommunications service.

   (c) A state commission that establishes interim wholesale rates shall,
   within a reasonable period of time thereafter, establish wholesale
   rates on the basis of an avoided retail cost study that complies with
   § 51.609.