§  69.108   Transport rate benchmark.

   (a) For transport charges computed in accordance with this subpart, the
   DS3-to-DS1 benchmark ratio shall be calculated as follows: the
   telephone company shall calculate the ratio of:

   (1) The total charge for a 1.609 km (1 mi) channel termination, 16.09
   km (10 mi) of interoffice transmission, and one DS3 multiplexer using
   the telephone company's DS3 special access rates to;

   (2) The total charge for a 1.609 km (1 mi) channel termination plus
   16.09 km (10 mi) of interoffice transmission using the telephone
   company's DS1 special access rates.

   (b) Initial transport rates will generally be presumed reasonable if
   they are based on special access rates with a DS3-to-DS1 benchmark
   ratio of 9.6 to 1 or higher.

   (c) If a telephone company's initial transport rates are based on
   special access rates with a DS3-to-DS1 benchmark ratio of less than 9.6
   to 1, those initial transport rates will generally be suspended and
   investigated absent a substantial cause showing by the telephone
   company. Alternatively, the telephone company may adjust its initial
   transport rates so that the DS3-to-DS1 ratio calculated as described in
   paragraph (a) of this section of those rates is 9.6 or higher. In that
   case, initial transport rates that depart from existing special access
   rates effective on September 1, 1992 so as to be consistent with the
   benchmark will be presumed reasonable only so long as the ratio of
   revenue recovered through the interconnection charge to the revenue
   recovered through facilities-based charges is the same as it would be
   if the telephone company's existing special access rates effective on
   September 1, 1992 were used.

   [ 58 FR 41189 , Aug. 3, 1993, as amended at  58 FR 44952 , Aug. 25, 1993;
    58 FR 45267 , Aug. 27, 1993]