FAA Reference: Complying with Altitude Restrictions on a STAR
 

I am foreign Pilot regularly operating in the USA Airspace. It has been mentioned to me(without any regulatory reference), that when an ATC clears me to descend via a STAR and just prior to the last fix on that STAR which has a published hard crossing altitude. This crossing altitude restriction is automatically cancelled if the ATC assigns me to a lower altitude prior to that fix.

Say for Example:

ATC clears me to descend via ABC1 arrival. Bottom altitude at waypoint “C” is 5000ft. Prior to reaching waypoint “C”, ATC clears me to maintain 3000ft. Does the crossing restriction of 5000ft at waypoint “C” still apply or does this lower altitude clearance automatically cancel the altitude restriction and I can descend to 3000ft prior to reaching waypoint “C”.

Any guidance towards a FAA regulatory reference would be highly appreciated.

I attached a q&a from faa.
https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/fi...nd_Via_FAQ.pdf

the phrase “descend/climb and maintain xxx cancels altitudes, but not speeds. Atc may reissue a VIA clearance for further climb/descent.

"Maintain " is a key word, means cancel the followed waypoint altitude restriction. It's kind of different from other European country. If ATC wants you to comply the altitude restriction, she/he need to restate it, like "descend via xxx STAR to xxx ft"