, 64374 [X09-301207]

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 233 (Monday, December 7, 2009)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 64374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: X09-301207]


[[Page 64374]]




POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION (PRC)



Statement of Regulatory Priorities
 The Postal Regulatory Commission serves as the primary regulator of 
the United States Postal Service. Its primary mission is to ensure 
accountability and transparency of the Postal Service to Congress, 
stakeholders and the general public on issues such as financial 
operations, pricing policies, and delivery performance.
In fiscal year 2010, the Commission will evaluate its current 
regulations with a goal of improving and streamlining those regulations 
to ensure that the Postal Service is in full compliance with applicable 
law. The Commission's principal regulatory priority for fiscal year 
2010 is to develop and establish regulations relating to the Periodic 
Reporting of Service Performance Measurements and Customer Satisfaction 
for Postal Service market dominant products. The Commission has begun 
this process and will continue to do so well into fiscal year 2010.
_______________________________________________________________________



PRC

                              -----------

                            FINAL RULE STAGE

                              -----------




178.  PERIODIC REPORTING OF SERVICE PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS 
AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Priority:


Other Significant. Major status under 5 USC 801 is undetermined.


Legal Authority:


39 USC 3652(a)(2)(B); 39 USC 3652(e); 39 USC 3651


CFR Citation:


Not Yet Determined


Legal Deadline:


None


Abstract:


Section 3652(a)(2)(B) of title 39 requires the United States Postal 
Service to prepare and submit to the Postal Regulatory Commission 
periodic reports which in part provide measures of the quality of 
service afforded each market dominant product in terms of the level of 
service and the degree of customer satisfaction. Section 3652(e) 
directs the Postal Regulatory Commission to prescribe the content and 
form of such reports provided by the United States Postal Service under 
39 USC 3652. Section 3651(c) also authorizes the Postal Regulatory 
Commission to obtain information from the Postal Service in order to 
prepare periodic reports. This regulation will fulfill the Commission's 
statutory responsibility to prescribe the content and form of reports 
related to the quality of service.


Statement of Need:


Establishing requirements for the reporting of quality of service 
afforded each market dominant product is required by the Postal 
Accountability and Enhancement Act. The reporting of quality of service 
provides visibility into the United States Postal Service's provision 
of those products. This is a necessary element of a modern system of 
regulation to ensure that quality of service is not compromised under a 
new price cap based rate system. Congress tasked the Postal Regulatory 
Commission with the job of prescribing reporting requirements to 
accomplish these goals. These regulations are the Commission's 
implementation of that Congressional directive.


Summary of Legal Basis:


Title 39 USC 3652(a)(2)(B) and 39 USC 3651 require the United States 
Postal Service to prepare and submit to the Postal Regulatory 
Commission periodic reports which in part provide measures of the 
quality of service afforded each market dominant product. Title 39 USC 
3652(e) requires the Postal Regulatory Commission to issue regulations 
to prescribe the content and form of public reports (and any nonpublic 
annex and supporting matter relating to the report) provided by the 
Postal Service under 39 USC 3652. Title 39 USC 3651(c) also authorizes 
the Postal Regulatory Commission to obtain information from the Postal 
Service in order to prepare periodic reports.


Alternatives:


There are no alternative methods of complying with the requirements of 
39 USC 3652(e) or 39 USC 3651 other than by issuing regulations.


Anticipated Cost and Benefits:


The United States Postal Service will incur costs associated with 
developing and implementing systems to measure the quality of service 
afforded each market dominant product. The United States Postal Service 
also will incur the costs of annual reporting. The Postal Regulatory 
Commission will incur the costs of reviewing annual reports. These 
costs were anticipated by Congress when establishing the reporting 
requirements of 39 USC 3651 and 39 USC 3652. The benefits of incurring 
these costs are to provide visibility into the quality of service 
afforded each market dominant product provided by the United States 
Postal Service.


Risks:


There are no known risks to this regulatory action.


Timetable:
_______________________________________________________________________
Action                            Date                        FR Cite

_______________________________________________________________________
NPRM                            09/25/09                    74 FR 49190
NPRM Comment Period End         10/26/09
Reply Comment Deadline          11/24/09
Final Action                    02/00/10

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required:


No


Government Levels Affected:


Federal


Agency Contact:
Stephen L. Sharfman
General Counsel
Postal Regulatory Commission
Suite 200
901 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20268-0001
Phone: 202 789-6820
Fax: 202 789-6861
Email: stephen.sharfman@prc.gov
RIN: 3211-AA05
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-S