This interim rule implements HUD's new fair market rent (FMR) policy. The new FMR policy targets relief to areas where higher FMRs are needed to help families, assisted under HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program as well as other HUD programs, find and lease decent and affordable housing. With respect to the Housing Choice Voucher Program, the policy provides that where necessary to ensure the effective operation of this program, PHAs will be allowed to set their payment standards based on the 50th percentile rent rather than the published 40th percentile FMR. This aspect of the policy is designed to ensure that families with housing vouchers have access to at least half of all available units in those areas. In addition, the new FMR policy increases FMRs to the 50th percentile in those metropolitan areas where an FMR increase is most needed to promote residential choice, help families move closer to areas of job growth, and deconcentrate poverty. Where it is determined that an FMR increase is needed in a metropolitan area, the increased FMR applies to all the HUD programs that use FMRs in that metropolitan area.