Sec. 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]