Smoothly Increasing gateway

[dmb]

Assuming that the allocation percentages are decellerating, do these intervals satisfy the smoothly increasing gateway for a service based allocation schedule: 0 to lessthan 8 years, 8 years to less than 12 years, 12 years to less than 16, 16 years to less than 20 years, 20 or more years. I don't work on these plans as much as i used to, my question is regarding the first group. I know 0 years of service doesnt' count, but does that first grouop have to be the same period as the others? Thanks.

[Tom Poje]

appears to fail:

1.401(a)(4)-8(b)(1)(iv)© regular intervals

if each band, other than the band associated with the highest age, years of service, or age and service points is the same length.