Sec. 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 
Sec. 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 Sec. 51.609.