A method for allocating a group bit rate among each line in a group of bonded lines in a communications network, the method comprising: receiving first and second actual bit rates (ACT.sub.1, ACT.sub.2) for first and second lines (L1, L2) of the group (G), respectively; calculating a splitting ratio (X) of the second actual bit rate to the first actual bit rate (X=ACT.sub.2/ACT.sub.1); if the splitting ratio (X) is within a predetermined range, determining ones of first and second minimum bit rates (MIN.sub.1, MIN.sub.2) and first and second maximum bit rates (MAX.sub.1, MAX.sub.2) for the first and second lines (L1, L2), respectively, from ones of the splitting ratio (X), a group minimum bit rate (MIN.sub.G), a group maximum bit rate (MAX.sub.G), and first and second preconfigured minimum bit rates (MIN.sub.L1, MIN.sub.L2) for the first and second lines (L1, L2), respectively; and, configuring first and second transceivers for the first and second lines (L1, L2), respectively, with ones of the first and second minimum (MIN.sub.1, MIN.sub.2) and maximum (MAX.sub.1, MAX.sub.2) bit rates.