PLT QUESTIONS A80 CTLR TO VALIDATE AIRSPD ASSIGNMENT OF 290 KTS BELOW 10000 FT.

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DEPARTING ATL ARPT WITH A CLRNC TO CLB TO 17000 FT AND TURN TO A HDG OF N; WE WERE TOLD BY ATC TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPD OF 290 KTS. WE WERE CURRENTLY CLBING THROUGH 7000 FT AND ACCELERATED FROM 250 KTS TO 290 KTS. OTHER ACFT AHEAD AND BEHIND US WERE GIVEN THE SAME AIRSPD ASSIGNMENTS. THE CAPT AND I HAD BOTH READ FROM OUR COMPANY OPS NOTES THAT WE WERE ALLOWED TO GO FASTER THAN 250 KTS BELOW 10000 FT WHEN TOLD TO DO SO BY ATC. THAT PARTICULAR OPS NOTES JUST MENTIONED THIS PROC AT HOUSTON; TX. WE THOUGHT ATL MUST BE DOING THE SAME THING. SHORTLY AFTER WE RECEIVED OUR AIRSPD ASSIGNMENT; ANOTHER ACFT (WHO WAS ALSO GIVEN THE SAME AIRSPD ASSIGNED) ASKED THE CTLR IF HE WANTED THEM AT 290 KTS NOW; OR WHEN ABOVE 10000 FT. THE CTLR PAUSED AND RESPONDED KIND OF SHEEPISHLY 'WHEN ABOVE 10000 FT.' AT THAT POINT; WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO PASS 10000 FT; SO WE KEPT OUR AIRSPD AT 290 KTS. IN CRUISE FLT; WE LOOKED IN OUR CHART NOTAMS FOR INFO ON CLRNCS TO GO FASTER THAN 250 KTS ABOVE 10000 FT AND COULD NOT FIND ANY. WE STILL DO NOT KNOW IF YOU VIOLATED AN FAR BY FOLLOWING THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTIONS. LOOKING BACK; WE SHOULD HAVE QUERIED THE CTLR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 530604: A FEW DAYS LATER WHEN I HAD A CHANCE; I TALKED WITH THE CHIEF PLT ABOUT THIS SIT (REQUESTING SPDS GREATER THAN 250 KTS BELOW 10000 FT LIKE IN HOUSTON) AND DISCUSSED HOW WE NEEDED TO LET OTHER PLTS KNOW ABOUT THESE CLRNCS. THE CHIEF PLT HAD THE ATL FACILITY CONTACTED AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A TEST PROGRAM. NOW THE FACILITY HAS COME BACK AND SAID THEY MEANT 'ACCELERATE TO 290 KTS' AFTER 10000 FT MSL.