New Postal Product, 62357-62358 [E9-28377]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 227 / Friday, November 27, 2009 / Notices
PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY
CORPORATION
Submission of Information Collection
for OMB Review; Comment Request;
Customer Satisfaction Surveys and
Focus Groups
Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.
ACTION: Notice of request for extension
of OMB approval.
AGENCY:
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SUMMARY: The Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation (‘‘PBGC’’) is requesting that
the Office of Management and Budget
(‘‘OMB’’) extend approval, under the
Paperwork Reduction Act, of a
collection of information consisting of
customer service focus groups and
surveys (OMB control number 1212–
0053; expires December 31, 2009). This
notice informs the public of PBGC’s
request and solicits public comment on
the collection of information.
DATES: Comments should be submitted
by December 28, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to
the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation,
via electronic mail at
OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov or by fax
to 202 395–6974. A copy of PBGC’s
request may be obtained without charge
by writing to the Disclosure Division of
the Office of the General Counsel of
PBGC at the above address or by visiting
that office or calling 202 326–4040
during normal business hours. (TTY and
TDD users may call the Federal relay
service toll free at 1 800 877–8339 and
ask to be connected to 202 326–4040.)
The request is also available at https://
www.reginfo.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas H. Gabriel, Attorney,
Legislative and Regulatory Department,
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation,
1200 K Street, NW., Washington, DC
20005–4026, 202 326–4024. (TTY and
TDD users may call the Federal relay
service toll-free at 1 800 877–8339 and
ask to be connected to 202 326–4024.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An agency
may not conduct or sponsor, and a
person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
PBGC is requesting that OMB extend
its approval, for a three-year period, of
a generic collection of information
consisting of customer satisfaction focus
groups and surveys (OMB No. 1212–
0053; expires December 31, 2009). The
information collection will further the
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18:08 Nov 25, 2009
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goals of Executive Order 12862, Setting
Customer Service Standards, which
states the Federal Government must
seek to provide ‘‘the highest quality of
service delivered to customers by
private organizations providing a
comparable or analogous service.’’
PBGC uses customer satisfaction focus
groups and surveys to find out about the
needs and expectations of its customers
and assess how well it is meeting those
needs and expectations. By keeping
these avenues of communication open,
PBGC can continually improve service
to its customers, including plan
participants and beneficiaries, plan
sponsors and their affiliates, plan
administrators, pension practitioners,
and others involved in the
establishment, operation and
termination of plans covered by PBGC’s
insurance program. Because the areas of
concern to PBGC and its customers vary
and may quickly change, it is important
that PBGC have the ability to evaluate
customer concerns quickly by
developing new vehicles for gathering
information under this generic approval.
The focus groups and surveys will
provide important information on
customer attitudes about the delivery
and quality of agency services and will
be used as part of an ongoing process to
improve PBGC programs.
Participation in the focus groups and
surveys will be voluntary. PBGC
estimates that the annual burden for this
collection of information will total 710
hours for 2,000 respondents. PBGC
further estimates that the cost to
respondents per burden hour will
average $72, resulting in a total cost of
$51,120 ($72 × 710). PBGC will consult
with OMB regarding each specific
information collection during the
approval period.
PBGC published in the Federal
Register a notice of intention to request
extension of OMB approval of this
collection. 74 FR 40244 (August 11,
2009). No comments were received in
response to the notice.
Issued at Washington, DC, this 19th day of
November 2009.
John H. Hanley,
Director, Legislative and Regulatory
Department, Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.
[FR Doc. E9–28165 Filed 11–25–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7709–01–P
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62357
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. MC2010–11 and CP2010–11;
Order No. 345]
New Postal Product
Postal Regulatory Commission.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a
recently-filed Postal Service request to
add Inbound Air Parcel Post at
Universal Postal Union (UPU) Rates to
the Competitive Product List. The Postal
Service has also filed a related contract.
This notice addresses procedural steps
associated with these filings.
DATES: Comments are due: December 7,
2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments
electronically via the Commission’s
Filing Online system at https://
www.prc.gov. Commenters who cannot
submit their views electronically should
contact the person identified in FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by
telephone for advice on alternatives to
electronic filing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel,
202–789–6820 or
stephen.sharfman@prc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
II. Notice of Filing
III. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction
On November 17, 2009, the Postal
Service filed a request pursuant to 39
U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR 3020.30 et seq.
to add Inbound Air Parcel Post at
Universal Postal Union (UPU) Rates to
the Competitive Product List.1 The
Postal Service asserts that Inbound Air
Parcel Post is a competitive product
within the meaning of 39 U.S.C.
3632(b)(3).
The Postal Service states that prices
and classifications underlying these
rates are supported by Governors’
Decision No. 09–15.2 Id. at 1–2. This
1 Request of the United States Postal Service to
Add Inbound Air Parcel Post at Universal Postal
Union (UPU) Rates to the Competitive Products
List, Notice of Establishment of Prices and
Classifications Not of General Applicability for
Inbound Air Parcel Post at UPU Rates Established
in Governors’ Decision No, 09–15, and Application
for Non-Public Treatment of Materials Filed Under
Seal, November 17, 2009 (Request).
2 The Request and Governors’ Decision both note
that the classification for Inbound Air Parcel Post
was originally proposed by the Postal Service for
the Mail Classification Schedule language in
response to PRC Docket No. RM2007–1, Order No.
43, Order Establishing Ratemaking Regulations for
Market Dominant and Competitive Products,
October 29, 2007 (Order No. 43). Id. at 1.
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62358
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 227 / Friday, November 27, 2009 / Notices
Request has been assigned Docket No.
MC2010–11.
The Postal Service states that
Governors’ Decision No. 09–15
establishes the prices for Inbound Air
Parcel Post at UPU Rates and the
changes in classification necessary to
implement those prices. Id. at 3. The
rates authorized by Governors’ Decision
No. 09–15 are inward land rates when
there is no contractual relationship with
the tendering postal operator at the
highest possible inward land rate
eligible for the United States under the
Parcel Post regulations. Id. These rates
are assigned Docket No. CP2010–11.
Request. In support of its Request, the
Postal Service filed the following
materials: (1) An application for nonpublic treatment of pricing and
supporting documents filed under seal;3
(2) a Statement of Supporting
Justification as required by 39 CFR
3020.32;4 (3) a redacted version of
Governors’ Decision No. 09–15
establishing prices and classifications
for Inbound Air Parcel Post at UPU
Rates, certification of the Governors’
vote, a certification of compliance with
39 U.S.C. 3633 (a), proposed Mail
Classification Schedule (MCS) language,
and a Management Analysis of Inbound
Air Parcel Post at UPU Rates.5
Air parcels comprise inbound parcels
eligible to receive transportation by air
rather than surface. Governors’ Decision
No. 09–15 at 2. The Postal Service
indicates that the United States receives
both air and surface parcels from foreign
postal administrations which
compensate the Postal Service for
delivery of these parcels in the United
States. Request at 2. It maintains that it
has negotiated separate agreements for
parcel rates with certain foreign posts,
but most compensate it at the United
States default rates for inbound parcel
delivery. Id. The default rates are known
as inward land rates. The Postal Service
notes that inward land rates are set
according to formulas in the UPU Parcel
Post Regulations which constitute
international law. Id. More specifically,
the UPU Postal Operations Council sets
rates.6 The Postal Service states that
UPU Parcel Post Regulations require
that rates are based on a percentage of
each member’s inward land rate in
2004. Id. at 3. UPU members may
qualify for percentage ‘‘bonuses’’ to
their base rate based upon their
provision of certain value-added
3 Attachment
1 to the Request.
2 to the Request.
5 Attachment 3 to the Request.
6 The UPU Postal Operations Council is a
designated body of the UPU which is responsible
for rate setting.
4 Attachment
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services.7 Id. The Postal Service states it
is responsible for gathering information
that the UPU Postal Operations Council
uses to calculate the rates including
completion of a questionnaire on service
bonus eligibility, and submission of
annual inflation information from the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers. Id. It explains that the UPU
uses this information from the member
posts and publishes an annual notice in
the fall establishing the postal
administration’s parcel rates for the
following year. Id.
The Postal Service states that because
of the unique situation of setting inward
land rates, it chose to establish rates for
inbound air parcels by reference to the
Universal Postal Convention. Id.
In the Statement of Supporting
Justification, Brian Hutchins, Manager,
International Postal Relations, asserts
that adding Inbound Air Parcel Post at
UPU Rates to the competitive product
list improves the Postal Service’s
competitive posture, will cover its
attributable costs, make a positive
contribution to institutional costs, and
increase contribution toward the
requisite 5.5 percent of the Postal
Service’s total institutional costs. Id.,
Attachment 2. Thus, Mr. Hutchins
contends there will be no issue of
subsidization of competitive products
by market dominant products as a result
of this product addition. Id.
W. Ashley Lyons, Manager,
Regulatory Reporting and Cost Analysis,
Finance Department, certifies that the
contract complies with 39 U.S.C.
3633(a). Request, Attachment 3. He
asserts that the prices for Inbound Air
Parcel Post at UPU Rates ‘‘should cover
its attributable costs and preclude the
subsidization of competitive products
by market dominant products.’’ Id.
The Postal Service filed much of the
supporting materials under seal. In its
Request, the Postal Service maintains
that certain portions of Governors’
Decision 09–15 and related financial
information should remain confidential
including portions of the management
financial analysis of Inbound Air Parcel
Post at UPU Rates and the
accompanying analyses that provide
prices, terms, conditions, cost data, and
financial projections should remain
under seal. Request at 2. Prices and
classification changes established in
Governors’ Decision No. 09–15 are
scheduled to take effect January 1, 2010.
Governors’ Decision No. 09–15 at 2.
7 The Postal Service states that services such as
‘‘track and trace, home delivery, published delivery
standards, and use of a common inquiry system’’
qualify UPU members for bonuses. Id. Members
may also seek an inflation-related adjustment to the
base rate which is capped at 5 percent per year.
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II. Notice of Filings
The Commission establishes Docket
Nos. MC2010–11 and CP2010–11 for
consideration of the Request pertaining
to the proposed Inbound Air Parcel Post
at UPU Rates product and the related
rates and classifications, respectively. In
keeping with practice, these dockets are
addressed on a consolidated basis for
purposes of this order; however, future
filings should be made in the specific
docket in which issues being addressed
pertain.
Interested persons may submit
comments on whether the Postal
Service’s filings in the captioned
dockets are consistent with the policies
of 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, or 3642, 39 CFR
part 3015, and 39 CFR 3020 subpart B.
Comments are due no later than
December 7, 2009. The public portions
of these filings can be accessed via the
Commission’s Web site https://
www.prc.gov.
The Commission appoints Paul L.
Harrington to serve as Public
Representative in these dockets.
III. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket
Nos. MC2010–11 and CP2010–11 for
consideration of the matters raised in
each docket.
2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Paul L.
Harrington is appointed to serve as
officer of the Commission (Public
Representative) to represent the
interests of the general public in these
proceedings.
3. Comments by interested persons in
these proceedings are due no later than
December 7, 2009.
4. The Secretary shall arrange for
publication of this order in the Federal
Register.
By the Commission.
Judith M. Grady,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–28377 Filed 11–25–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–FW–S
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
Board of Governors; Sunshine Act
Meeting; Notice
Board Votes To Close December 8,
2009, Meeting
At its closed session meeting on
November 12, 2009, the Board of
Governors of the United States Postal
Service voted unanimously to close to
public observation its meeting to be
held on December 8, 2009, in
Washington, DC, via teleconference. The
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 227 (Friday, November 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62357-62358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28377]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. MC2010-11 and CP2010-11; Order No. 345]
New Postal Product
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service
request to add Inbound Air Parcel Post at Universal Postal Union (UPU)
Rates to the Competitive Product List. The Postal Service has also
filed a related contract. This notice addresses procedural steps
associated with these filings.
DATES: Comments are due: December 7, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing
Online system at https://www.prc.gov. Commenters who cannot submit their
views electronically should contact the person identified in FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by telephone for advice on alternatives to
electronic filing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel,
202-789-6820 or stephen.sharfman@prc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
II. Notice of Filing
III. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction
On November 17, 2009, the Postal Service filed a request pursuant
to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR 3020.30 et seq. to add Inbound Air Parcel
Post at Universal Postal Union (UPU) Rates to the Competitive Product
List.\1\ The Postal Service asserts that Inbound Air Parcel Post is a
competitive product within the meaning of 39 U.S.C. 3632(b)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Request of the United States Postal Service to Add Inbound
Air Parcel Post at Universal Postal Union (UPU) Rates to the
Competitive Products List, Notice of Establishment of Prices and
Classifications Not of General Applicability for Inbound Air Parcel
Post at UPU Rates Established in Governors' Decision No, 09-15, and
Application for Non-Public Treatment of Materials Filed Under Seal,
November 17, 2009 (Request).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Postal Service states that prices and classifications
underlying these rates are supported by Governors' Decision No. 09-
15.\2\ Id. at 1-2. This
[[Page 62358]]
Request has been assigned Docket No. MC2010-11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The Request and Governors' Decision both note that the
classification for Inbound Air Parcel Post was originally proposed
by the Postal Service for the Mail Classification Schedule language
in response to PRC Docket No. RM2007-1, Order No. 43, Order
Establishing Ratemaking Regulations for Market Dominant and
Competitive Products, October 29, 2007 (Order No. 43). Id. at 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Postal Service states that Governors' Decision No. 09-15
establishes the prices for Inbound Air Parcel Post at UPU Rates and the
changes in classification necessary to implement those prices. Id. at
3. The rates authorized by Governors' Decision No. 09-15 are inward
land rates when there is no contractual relationship with the tendering
postal operator at the highest possible inward land rate eligible for
the United States under the Parcel Post regulations. Id. These rates
are assigned Docket No. CP2010-11.
Request. In support of its Request, the Postal Service filed the
following materials: (1) An application for non-public treatment of
pricing and supporting documents filed under seal;\3\ (2) a Statement
of Supporting Justification as required by 39 CFR 3020.32;\4\ (3) a
redacted version of Governors' Decision No. 09-15 establishing prices
and classifications for Inbound Air Parcel Post at UPU Rates,
certification of the Governors' vote, a certification of compliance
with 39 U.S.C. 3633 (a), proposed Mail Classification Schedule (MCS)
language, and a Management Analysis of Inbound Air Parcel Post at UPU
Rates.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Attachment 1 to the Request.
\4\ Attachment 2 to the Request.
\5\ Attachment 3 to the Request.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air parcels comprise inbound parcels eligible to receive
transportation by air rather than surface. Governors' Decision No. 09-
15 at 2. The Postal Service indicates that the United States receives
both air and surface parcels from foreign postal administrations which
compensate the Postal Service for delivery of these parcels in the
United States. Request at 2. It maintains that it has negotiated
separate agreements for parcel rates with certain foreign posts, but
most compensate it at the United States default rates for inbound
parcel delivery. Id. The default rates are known as inward land rates.
The Postal Service notes that inward land rates are set according to
formulas in the UPU Parcel Post Regulations which constitute
international law. Id. More specifically, the UPU Postal Operations
Council sets rates.\6\ The Postal Service states that UPU Parcel Post
Regulations require that rates are based on a percentage of each
member's inward land rate in 2004. Id. at 3. UPU members may qualify
for percentage ``bonuses'' to their base rate based upon their
provision of certain value-added services.\7\ Id. The Postal Service
states it is responsible for gathering information that the UPU Postal
Operations Council uses to calculate the rates including completion of
a questionnaire on service bonus eligibility, and submission of annual
inflation information from the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers. Id. It explains that the UPU uses this information from the
member posts and publishes an annual notice in the fall establishing
the postal administration's parcel rates for the following year. Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The UPU Postal Operations Council is a designated body of
the UPU which is responsible for rate setting.
\7\ The Postal Service states that services such as ``track and
trace, home delivery, published delivery standards, and use of a
common inquiry system'' qualify UPU members for bonuses. Id. Members
may also seek an inflation-related adjustment to the base rate which
is capped at 5 percent per year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Postal Service states that because of the unique situation of
setting inward land rates, it chose to establish rates for inbound air
parcels by reference to the Universal Postal Convention. Id.
In the Statement of Supporting Justification, Brian Hutchins,
Manager, International Postal Relations, asserts that adding Inbound
Air Parcel Post at UPU Rates to the competitive product list improves
the Postal Service's competitive posture, will cover its attributable
costs, make a positive contribution to institutional costs, and
increase contribution toward the requisite 5.5 percent of the Postal
Service's total institutional costs. Id., Attachment 2. Thus, Mr.
Hutchins contends there will be no issue of subsidization of
competitive products by market dominant products as a result of this
product addition. Id.
W. Ashley Lyons, Manager, Regulatory Reporting and Cost Analysis,
Finance Department, certifies that the contract complies with 39 U.S.C.
3633(a). Request, Attachment 3. He asserts that the prices for Inbound
Air Parcel Post at UPU Rates ``should cover its attributable costs and
preclude the subsidization of competitive products by market dominant
products.'' Id.
The Postal Service filed much of the supporting materials under
seal. In its Request, the Postal Service maintains that certain
portions of Governors' Decision 09-15 and related financial information
should remain confidential including portions of the management
financial analysis of Inbound Air Parcel Post at UPU Rates and the
accompanying analyses that provide prices, terms, conditions, cost
data, and financial projections should remain under seal. Request at 2.
Prices and classification changes established in Governors' Decision
No. 09-15 are scheduled to take effect January 1, 2010. Governors'
Decision No. 09-15 at 2.
II. Notice of Filings
The Commission establishes Docket Nos. MC2010-11 and CP2010-11 for
consideration of the Request pertaining to the proposed Inbound Air
Parcel Post at UPU Rates product and the related rates and
classifications, respectively. In keeping with practice, these dockets
are addressed on a consolidated basis for purposes of this order;
however, future filings should be made in the specific docket in which
issues being addressed pertain.
Interested persons may submit comments on whether the Postal
Service's filings in the captioned dockets are consistent with the
policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, or 3642, 39 CFR part 3015, and 39 CFR
3020 subpart B. Comments are due no later than December 7, 2009. The
public portions of these filings can be accessed via the Commission's
Web site https://www.prc.gov.
The Commission appoints Paul L. Harrington to serve as Public
Representative in these dockets.
III. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket Nos. MC2010-11 and CP2010-11
for consideration of the matters raised in each docket.
2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Paul L. Harrington is appointed to
serve as officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent
the interests of the general public in these proceedings.
3. Comments by interested persons in these proceedings are due no
later than December 7, 2009.
4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the
Federal Register.
By the Commission.
Judith M. Grady,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-28377 Filed 11-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-S
