No, this isn't necessarily true. Many providers assume that just
because they received a /19 or whatever from its upstream ISP they
will automatically receive a larger block from the InterNIC with
no questions asked. ISPs must show they've utilized any previously
allocated blocks (whether from the InterNIC or from its upstream)
efficiently to receive additional addresses. Once they do this
than there's no problem receiving additional space. If they have
not shown proper utilization than in some cases they will receive
a smaller block to start.
I'm glad to hear the NIC has changed their policy on this since
we asked last year.