Competitive Product Postal Price Changes, 77271-77273 [2011-31814]
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jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 238 / Monday, December 12, 2011 / Notices
collection of information for annual
financial and actuarial information
reporting under 29 CFR Part 4010 (OMB
control number 1212–0049; expires
March 31, 2012). This notice informs
the public of PBGC’s intent and solicits
public comment on the collection of
information.
DATES: Comments must be submitted by
February 10, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted by any of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the Web
site instructions for submitting
comments.
• Email: reg.comments@pbgc.gov.
• Fax: (202) 326–4224.
• Mail or Hand Delivery: Legislative
and Regulatory Department, Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K
Street NW., Washington, DC 20005–
4026.
Comments received, including
personal information provided, will be
posted to https://www.pbgc.gov.
Copies of the collection of
information and comments may be
obtained without charge by writing to
the Disclosure Division, Office of
General Counsel, at the above address or
by visiting the Disclosure Division or
calling (202) 326–4040 during normal
business hours. (TTY/TDD users may
call the Federal relay service toll-free at
1–(800) 877–8339 and ask to be
connected to (202) 326–4040.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Grace H. Kraemer, Attorney, or
Catherine B. Klion, Manager Legislative
and Regulatory Department, Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K
Street NW., Washington, DC 20005–
4026; (202) 326–4024. (TTY/TDD users
may call the Federal relay service tollfree at 1–(800) 877–8339 and ask to be
connected to (202) 326–4024.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
4010 of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)
requires each member of a controlled
group to submit financial and actuarial
information to PBGC under certain
circumstances. PBGC’s regulation on
Annual Financial and Actuarial
Information (29 CFR part 4010) specifies
the items of identifying, financial, and
actuarial information that filers must
submit. PBGC reviews the information
that is filed and enters it into an
electronic database for more detailed
analysis. Computer-assisted analysis of
this information helps PBGC to
anticipate possible major demands on
the/pension insurance system and to
focus PBGC resources on situations that
pose the greatest risk to the system.
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15:55 Dec 09, 2011
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Because other sources of information are
usually not as current as the 4010
information and do not reflect a plan’s
termination liability, 4010 filings play a
major role in PBGC’s ability to protect
participant and premium-payer
interests.
ERISA section 4010 and PBGC’s 4010
regulation specify that each controlled
group member must provide PBGC with
certain financial information, including
audited (if available) or (if not)
unaudited financial statements. They
also specify that the controlled group
must provide PBGC with certain
actuarial information necessary to
determine the liabilities and assets for
all PBGC-covered plans. All non-public
information submitted is protected from
disclosure. Reporting is accomplished
through PBGC’s secure e-4010 webbased application.
OMB has approved the 4010
collection of information under control
number 1212–0049 through March 31,
2012. PBGC intends to request that OMB
extend approval of this collection of
information for three years, without
change. 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 estimates that approximately
300 controlled groups will be subject to
4010 reporting requirements. PBGC
further estimates that the total annual
burden of this collection of information
will be 2,620 hours and $5,088,000.
PBGC is soliciting public comments
to—
• Evaluate whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodologies and assumptions used;
• Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
• Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
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77271
Issued in Washington, DC, this 7th day of
December 2011.
John H. Hanley,
Director, Legislative and Regulatory
Department, Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2011–31859 Filed 12–9–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7709–01–P
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. CP2012–2; Order No. 997]
Competitive Product Postal Price
Changes
Postal Regulatory Commission.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a
recently-filed Postal Service request for
a change in competitive products prices.
The changes will take effect January 22,
2012. This notice addresses procedural
steps associated with this filing.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments
electronically by accessing the ‘‘Filing
Online’’ link in the banner at the top of
the Commission’s Web site (https://
www.prc.gov) or by directly accessing
the Commission’s Filing Online system
at https://www.prc.gov/prc-pages/filingonline/login.aspx. Commenters who
cannot submit their views electronically
should contact the person identified in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section as the source for case-related
information for advice on alternatives to
electronic filing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel,
at (202) 789–6820 (case-related
information) or DocketAdmins@prc.gov
(electronic filing assistance).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
November 22, 2011, the Postal Service
filed notice with the Commission
concerning changes in rates of general
applicability for competitive products.1
The Filing also includes related mail
classification changes. The Postal
Service represents that, as required by
the Commission’s rules, 39 CFR
3015.2(b), the Filing includes an
explanation and justification for the
changes, the effective date, and a
schedule of the changed rates. The price
1 Notice of the United States Postal Service of
Changes in Rates of General Applicability for
Competitive Products Established in Governors’
Decision No. 11–8, November 22, 2011 (Filing). The
Filing is available on the Commission’s Web site,
www.prc.gov. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3632(b)(2), the
Postal Service is obligated to publish the Governors’
Decision and record of proceedings in the Federal
Register at least 30 days before the effective date of
the new rates or classes.
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77272
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 238 / Monday, December 12, 2011 / Notices
changes are scheduled to become
effective January 22, 2012.
Attached to the Filing is the
Governors’ Decision evaluating the new
prices and classification changes in
accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3632–33 and
39 CFR 3015.2. The Governors’ Decision
provides an analysis of the competitive
products’ price and classification
changes intended to demonstrate that
the changes comply with section
3633(a) of title 39 and the Commission’s
rules. See 39 CFR 3015.7(c).
The attachment to the Governors’
Decision sets forth the price changes
and includes a draft Mail Classification
Schedule (MCS) for competitive
products of general applicability.
Selected highlights of the price and
classification changes follow.
Express Mail. Overall, Express Mail
prices increase by 3.3 percent. Retail
prices increase, on average, by 4.4
percent. The existing structure of the
price categories for zoned Retail,
Commercial Base and Commercial Price
categories does not change. The
Commercial Base category, which offers
lower prices to Customers who use
online or other authorized postage
payment methods, decreases by 5.0
percent. Commercial Plus prices,
overall, receive a zero percent increase,
but some individual prices will increase
and some will decrease. A new Express
Mail Flat Rate Box product is added and
is priced the same across all channels
($39.95).
Priority Mail. Priority Mail prices
increase by 3.1 percent overall, with
average retail prices increasing by about
3.2 percent. Price increase varies by rate
cell and price tier. Flat Rate Box prices
are small ($5.35), Medium ($11.35),
Large ($15.45) and Large APO/FPO/DPO
($13.45).
The existing structure of Retail,
Commercial Base and Commercial Price
categories does not change. The average
increase for Commercial Base prices is
3.0 percent. Commercial Plus prices
increase by 2.8 percent. The price
category will continue to contain
Critical Mail letters and flats, a half
pound price, an assortment of Flat Rate
packaging, and Commercial Plus Cubic
pricing.
Changes to the price structure include
the following: (1) Adding a larger-sized
Regional Rate box tier; 2 (2) the parcel
volume threshold in Commercial Price
Cubic pricing is reduced from 250,000
to 150,000 pieces, and can use soft
packaging; and (3) Open and Distribute
pricing for specified trays and flat tubs
is to be introduced in January.
2 If
deposited at retail a $0.75 fee will be added.
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15:55 Dec 09, 2011
Jkt 226001
Parcel Select. Parcel Select service
increases, on average, by 8.5 percent.
For destination entry parcels, the
average price increases 7.6 percent for
dropshipping at destination delivery
units (DDU), 7.8 percent for parcels
entered at a destination plant (DSCF),
and 6.8 percent for parcels entered at a
destination Network Distribution Center
(NDC).
For nondestination-entered parcels,
the average increases are 1.5 percent for
origin NDC presort, 0.9 percent for NDC
presort, and 0.8 percent for nonpresort.
The barcode discount is eliminated.
Lightweight Parcel Select (formerly
Standard Mail commercial parcels)
increase by 8.9 percent. The maximum
dimensions for Regional Ground
increase to accommodate any
machinable parcel in this price category.
In January, the Intelligent Mail Package
Barcode (IMpb) feature is added for free
visibility.
Parcel Return. Parcel Return Service
increases, on average, by 4.6 percent.
Return NDC prices retrieved at a return
NDC will increase by 0 percent, and the
price for parcels picked up at a return
delivery unit (RDU) will increase by 8.9
percent. The Postal Service’s return
product offerings will be branded as
‘‘Return Service’’.
Commercial First-Class Package
Service. Commercial First-Class parcels,
recently transferred to the competitive
product list, are renamed Commercial
First-Class Package Service. Commercial
First-Class Package Service prices
increase, overall, 3.7 percent, with no
structural changes.
Domestic Extra Services. Premium
Forwarding Service prices increase 3.4
percent. The weekly reshipment fee
increases to $15.25. On average,
Address Enhancement Service prices
increase 7.3 percent. On January 2012,
6,800 Post Office Box locations join the
existing 49 locations on the competitive
product list. Additional fee ranges are
added for boxes in Fee Groups 2
through 7. A Package Intercept service
is introduced within the Competitive
Ancillary Services product, priced at
$10.95.
Global Express Guaranteed and
Express Mail International. Global
Express Guaranteed service increases,
on average, by 6.0 percent. Express Mail
International (EMI) service increases, on
average, by 11.6 percent.
For both GXG and EMI, classification
changes include changes to published
discounts: rate cell-specific discounted
schedules for both GXG and EMI replace
across-the-board discounts for
customers using approved postage
payment methods. Commercial base
discount schedules replace across the
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board discounts for eligible shipments
using selected payment methods.
Customers tendering at least $100,000 in
revenue per year for GXG, EMI and
Priority Mail International (PMI) can
request authorization for new
commercial plus discounts.
Two versions of a new Express Mail
International Flat Rate Box product are
added: for Canada ($59.95) and for all
other countries accepting EMI ($74.95),
both with a maximum weight of 20
pounds.
Classification changes also include A)
country group assignments for the
nation of Tonga, and B) changes to the
dimensional limits for EMI.
Priority Mail International. Overall,
Priority Mail International (PMI) prices
increase by 8.7 percent. Classification
changes include the simplification of
dimensional criteria for flat rate
envelopes and boxes, changes to the
dimensional limits for PMI and the
introduction of commercial base and
commercial plus discounts similar to
the changes for GXG and EMI.
International Priority Airmail.
International Priority Airmail has a
price increase of 1.0 percent.
International Surface Air Lift.
International Surface Air Lift has a price
increase of 13.7 percent.
Airmail M-Bags. The published prices
for Airmail M-Bags increase by 3.5
percent.
International Ancillary Services. The
overall increase for international
ancillary services is 5.0 percent. Money
Order prices increase by 4.7 percent.
Details of these changes may be found
in the attachment to Governors’
Decision No. 11–18.
The Filing also includes three
additional attachments: a redacted table
that shows FY 2012 projected volumes,
revenues, attributable costs,
contribution, and cost coverage for each
product, assuming implementation of
new prices on January 22, 2012, a
similar table assuming a hypothetical
implementation on October 3, 2011 (for
comparative purposes only), and an
application for non-public treatment of
the unredacted version of that table. The
table calculates and identifies a
contribution from competitive products
as a percentage (7.9%) of institutional
cost associated with the January 22,
2012 implementation.
Notice. The establishment of rates of
general applicability for competitive
products and the associated MCS
changes effect a change in the draft
MCS. Pursuant to subpart E of part 3020
of its rules, 39 CFR 3020.90 et seq., the
Commission provides notice of the
Postal Service’s Filing. Interested
persons may express views and offer
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 238 / Monday, December 12, 2011 / Notices
comments on whether the planned
changes are consistent with the policies
of 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, or 3642 and 39
CFR part 3015 and 39 CFR 3020, subpart
B. Comments are due no later than
December 12, 2011.
Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Natalie R.
Ward is appointed as Public
Representative to represent the interests
of the general public in the abovecaptioned docket.
Supplemental information. Pursuant
to 39 CFR 3015.6, the Postal Service is
requested to provide a written response
to the questions below. To assist in the
completion of the record, answers
should be provided as soon as possible,
but by no later than December 5, 2011.
1. Please refer to the redacted tables
attached to the Filing, which present
Competitive Product Contribution &
Cost Coverage Analysis’’ for FY 2012
‘‘January 22, 2011 Implementation’’ and
‘‘October 3, 2011 Implementation.’’
a. Provide FY 2012 volumes,
revenues, attributable costs,
contribution, and cost coverage data
similar to that provided in Docket No.
CP2011–26 to support all data in both
the redacted and unredacted tables.3
b. Provide a narrative explaining the
method used to forecast data in the
referenced tables.
c. Provide attributable costs, revenues,
and volumes data for each product
grouped in ‘‘Competitive International
(including Services)’’ at the same level
of detail provided for all other
competitive products in this docket. For
each of these international products,
explain how the expected revenues and
costs comply with 39 U.S.C. 3633(a).
d. Please explain how the price
adjustments for Parcel Select are
consistent with 3633(a) and Docket No.
MC2011–22, Order No. 689.4
2. Please refer to Governors’ Decision
No. 11–8. The Postal Service provides
overall price increases for the following
products: Express Mail 3.3 percent,
Priority Mail 3.1 percent, Parcel Select
8.5 percent, Parcel Return Service 4.6
percent, First-Class Package Services 3.7
percent, Premium Forwarding Service
3.4 percent, Address Enhancement
Service 7.3 percent, Global Express
Guaranteed 6.0 percent, Express Mail
International 11.6 percent, Priority Mail
International 8.7 percent, International
Priority Airmail 1.0 percent,
International Surface Airlift 13.7
percent, Airmail M–Bags 3.5 percent,
International Ancillary Services 5.0
percent, and international money orders
4.7 percent. Please describe the weights
used to derive the Before Rates and
After Rates indices relied upon to
calculate the overall (average)
percentage price increase for each
product and service referenced above
similar to the supplemental data filed in
Docket No. CP2011–26. ld. Please show
all calculations in Excel, and explain
any adjustments made due to
classification changes.
3. Please provide the specific prices
assigned to the competitive SemiAnnual Fees for each Box Size and Fee
Group. (Attachment at 141.)
4. The following refers to Note 3 at
142. Please clarify what is meant
regarding the portion of the fee that
‘‘may serve as postage on packages
delivered to competitive Post Office box
service customers after being brought to
the Post Office by a private carrier.’’
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket
No. CP2012–2 to provide interested
persons an opportunity to express views
and offer comments on whether the
planned changes are consistent with the
policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, or 3642
and 39 CFR part 3015 and 39 CFR 3020,
subpart B.
2. Comments on the Filing are due no
later than December 12, 2011.
3. The Commission appoints Natalie
R. Ward as Public Representative to
represent the interests of the general
public in this proceeding.
4. The Postal Service shall provide a
written response to the supplemental
information requested in this order no
later than December 5, 2011.
5. The Secretary shall arrange for
publication of this order in the Federal
Register.
By the Commission.
Ruth Ann Abrams,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011–31814 Filed 12–9–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
3 See,
e.g., Docket No. CP2011–26, Notice of the
United States Postal Service of Filing Supplemental
Information Under Seal in Response to Commission
Order No. 575, November 12, 2010; Supplemental
Information Provided by the United States Postal
Service in Response to Commission Order No. 575,
Question 2 and Notice of Filing Material Under
Seal, November 16, 2010.
4 Docket No. MC2011–22, Order Conditionally
Granting Request to Transfer Commercial Standard
Mail Parcels to the Competitive Product List, March
2, 2011 (Order No. 689).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:55 Dec 09, 2011
Jkt 226001
[Docket No. A2012–79; Order No. 1022]
Post Office Closing
Postal Regulatory Commission.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: This document informs the
public that an appeal of the closing of
the Burns, Colorado post office has been
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Sfmt 4703
77273
filed. It identifies preliminary steps and
provides a procedural schedule.
Publication of this document will allow
the Postal Service, petitioners, and
others to take appropriate action.
DATES: December 6, 2011:
Administrative record due (from Postal
Service); December 27, 2011, 4:30 p.m.,
Eastern Time: Deadline for notices to
intervene. See the Procedural Schedule
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section for other dates of interest.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments
electronically by accessing the ‘‘Filing
Online’’ link in the banner at the top of
the Commission’s Web site (https://
www.prc.gov) or by directly accessing
the Commission’s Filing Online system
at https://www.prc.gov/prc-pages/filingonline/login.aspx. Commenters who
cannot submit their views electronically
should contact the person identified in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section as the source for case-related
information for advice on alternatives to
electronic filing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel,
at (202) 789–6820 (case-related
information) or DocketAdmins@prc.gov
(electronic filing assistance).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
hereby given that, pursuant to 39 U.S.C.
404(d), the Commission received two
petitions for review of the Postal
Service’s determination to close the
Burns post office in Burns, Colorado.
The first petition for review received
November 21, 2011, was filed by Jackie
Schlegel. The second petition for review
received November 23, 2011, was filed
by Patricia Lee Strubi. The earliest
postmark date is November 17, 2011.
The Commission hereby institutes a
proceeding under 39 U.S.C. 404(d)(5)
and establishes Docket No. A2012–79 to
consider Petitioners’ appeal. If
Petitioners would like to further explain
their position with supplemental
information or facts, Petitioners may
either file a Participant Statement on
PRC Form 61 or file a brief with the
Commission no later than December 27,
2011.
Categories of issues apparently raised.
Petitioners contend that (1) the Postal
Service failed to consider the effect of
the closing on the community (see 39
U.S.C. 404(d)(2)(A)(i)); and (2) the Postal
Service failed to consider whether or
not it will continue to provide a
maximum degree of effective and
regular postal services to the community
(see 39 U.S.C. 404(d)(2)(A)(iii)).
After the Postal Service files the
administrative record and the
Commission reviews it, the Commission
may find that there are more legal issues
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 238 (Monday, December 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77271-77273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31814]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. CP2012-2; Order No. 997]
Competitive Product Postal Price Changes
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service
request for a change in competitive products prices. The changes will
take effect January 22, 2012. This notice addresses procedural steps
associated with this filing.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically by accessing the ``Filing
Online'' link in the banner at the top of the Commission's Web site
(https://www.prc.gov) or by directly accessing the Commission's Filing
Online system at https://www.prc.gov/prc-pages/filing-online/login.aspx. Commenters who cannot submit their views electronically
should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section as the source for case-related information for advice
on alternatives to electronic filing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel,
at (202) 789-6820 (case-related information) or DocketAdmins@prc.gov
(electronic filing assistance).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 22, 2011, the Postal Service
filed notice with the Commission concerning changes in rates of general
applicability for competitive products.\1\ The Filing also includes
related mail classification changes. The Postal Service represents
that, as required by the Commission's rules, 39 CFR 3015.2(b), the
Filing includes an explanation and justification for the changes, the
effective date, and a schedule of the changed rates. The price
[[Page 77272]]
changes are scheduled to become effective January 22, 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Notice of the United States Postal Service of Changes in
Rates of General Applicability for Competitive Products Established
in Governors' Decision No. 11-8, November 22, 2011 (Filing). The
Filing is available on the Commission's Web site, www.prc.gov.
Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3632(b)(2), the Postal Service is obligated to
publish the Governors' Decision and record of proceedings in the
Federal Register at least 30 days before the effective date of the
new rates or classes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attached to the Filing is the Governors' Decision evaluating the
new prices and classification changes in accordance with 39 U.S.C.
3632-33 and 39 CFR 3015.2. The Governors' Decision provides an analysis
of the competitive products' price and classification changes intended
to demonstrate that the changes comply with section 3633(a) of title 39
and the Commission's rules. See 39 CFR 3015.7(c).
The attachment to the Governors' Decision sets forth the price
changes and includes a draft Mail Classification Schedule (MCS) for
competitive products of general applicability. Selected highlights of
the price and classification changes follow.
Express Mail. Overall, Express Mail prices increase by 3.3 percent.
Retail prices increase, on average, by 4.4 percent. The existing
structure of the price categories for zoned Retail, Commercial Base and
Commercial Price categories does not change. The Commercial Base
category, which offers lower prices to Customers who use online or
other authorized postage payment methods, decreases by 5.0 percent.
Commercial Plus prices, overall, receive a zero percent increase, but
some individual prices will increase and some will decrease. A new
Express Mail Flat Rate Box product is added and is priced the same
across all channels ($39.95).
Priority Mail. Priority Mail prices increase by 3.1 percent
overall, with average retail prices increasing by about 3.2 percent.
Price increase varies by rate cell and price tier. Flat Rate Box prices
are small ($5.35), Medium ($11.35), Large ($15.45) and Large APO/FPO/
DPO ($13.45).
The existing structure of Retail, Commercial Base and Commercial
Price categories does not change. The average increase for Commercial
Base prices is 3.0 percent. Commercial Plus prices increase by 2.8
percent. The price category will continue to contain Critical Mail
letters and flats, a half pound price, an assortment of Flat Rate
packaging, and Commercial Plus Cubic pricing.
Changes to the price structure include the following: (1) Adding a
larger-sized Regional Rate box tier; \2\ (2) the parcel volume
threshold in Commercial Price Cubic pricing is reduced from 250,000 to
150,000 pieces, and can use soft packaging; and (3) Open and Distribute
pricing for specified trays and flat tubs is to be introduced in
January.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ If deposited at retail a $0.75 fee will be added.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parcel Select. Parcel Select service increases, on average, by 8.5
percent. For destination entry parcels, the average price increases 7.6
percent for dropshipping at destination delivery units (DDU), 7.8
percent for parcels entered at a destination plant (DSCF), and 6.8
percent for parcels entered at a destination Network Distribution
Center (NDC).
For nondestination-entered parcels, the average increases are 1.5
percent for origin NDC presort, 0.9 percent for NDC presort, and 0.8
percent for nonpresort. The barcode discount is eliminated. Lightweight
Parcel Select (formerly Standard Mail commercial parcels) increase by
8.9 percent. The maximum dimensions for Regional Ground increase to
accommodate any machinable parcel in this price category. In January,
the Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) feature is added for free
visibility.
Parcel Return. Parcel Return Service increases, on average, by 4.6
percent. Return NDC prices retrieved at a return NDC will increase by 0
percent, and the price for parcels picked up at a return delivery unit
(RDU) will increase by 8.9 percent. The Postal Service's return product
offerings will be branded as ``Return Service''.
Commercial First-Class Package Service. Commercial First-Class
parcels, recently transferred to the competitive product list, are
renamed Commercial First-Class Package Service. Commercial First-Class
Package Service prices increase, overall, 3.7 percent, with no
structural changes.
Domestic Extra Services. Premium Forwarding Service prices increase
3.4 percent. The weekly reshipment fee increases to $15.25. On average,
Address Enhancement Service prices increase 7.3 percent. On January
2012, 6,800 Post Office Box locations join the existing 49 locations on
the competitive product list. Additional fee ranges are added for boxes
in Fee Groups 2 through 7. A Package Intercept service is introduced
within the Competitive Ancillary Services product, priced at $10.95.
Global Express Guaranteed and Express Mail International. Global
Express Guaranteed service increases, on average, by 6.0 percent.
Express Mail International (EMI) service increases, on average, by 11.6
percent.
For both GXG and EMI, classification changes include changes to
published discounts: rate cell-specific discounted schedules for both
GXG and EMI replace across-the-board discounts for customers using
approved postage payment methods. Commercial base discount schedules
replace across the board discounts for eligible shipments using
selected payment methods. Customers tendering at least $100,000 in
revenue per year for GXG, EMI and Priority Mail International (PMI) can
request authorization for new commercial plus discounts.
Two versions of a new Express Mail International Flat Rate Box
product are added: for Canada ($59.95) and for all other countries
accepting EMI ($74.95), both with a maximum weight of 20 pounds.
Classification changes also include A) country group assignments
for the nation of Tonga, and B) changes to the dimensional limits for
EMI.
Priority Mail International. Overall, Priority Mail International
(PMI) prices increase by 8.7 percent. Classification changes include
the simplification of dimensional criteria for flat rate envelopes and
boxes, changes to the dimensional limits for PMI and the introduction
of commercial base and commercial plus discounts similar to the changes
for GXG and EMI.
International Priority Airmail. International Priority Airmail has
a price increase of 1.0 percent.
International Surface Air Lift. International Surface Air Lift has
a price increase of 13.7 percent.
Airmail M-Bags. The published prices for Airmail M-Bags increase by
3.5 percent.
International Ancillary Services. The overall increase for
international ancillary services is 5.0 percent. Money Order prices
increase by 4.7 percent.
Details of these changes may be found in the attachment to
Governors' Decision No. 11-18.
The Filing also includes three additional attachments: a redacted
table that shows FY 2012 projected volumes, revenues, attributable
costs, contribution, and cost coverage for each product, assuming
implementation of new prices on January 22, 2012, a similar table
assuming a hypothetical implementation on October 3, 2011 (for
comparative purposes only), and an application for non-public treatment
of the unredacted version of that table. The table calculates and
identifies a contribution from competitive products as a percentage
(7.9%) of institutional cost associated with the January 22, 2012
implementation.
Notice. The establishment of rates of general applicability for
competitive products and the associated MCS changes effect a change in
the draft MCS. Pursuant to subpart E of part 3020 of its rules, 39 CFR
3020.90 et seq., the Commission provides notice of the Postal Service's
Filing. Interested persons may express views and offer
[[Page 77273]]
comments on whether the planned changes are consistent with the
policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, or 3642 and 39 CFR part 3015 and 39
CFR 3020, subpart B. Comments are due no later than December 12, 2011.
Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Natalie R. Ward is appointed as Public
Representative to represent the interests of the general public in the
above-captioned docket.
Supplemental information. Pursuant to 39 CFR 3015.6, the Postal
Service is requested to provide a written response to the questions
below. To assist in the completion of the record, answers should be
provided as soon as possible, but by no later than December 5, 2011.
1. Please refer to the redacted tables attached to the Filing,
which present Competitive Product Contribution & Cost Coverage
Analysis'' for FY 2012 ``January 22, 2011 Implementation'' and
``October 3, 2011 Implementation.''
a. Provide FY 2012 volumes, revenues, attributable costs,
contribution, and cost coverage data similar to that provided in Docket
No. CP2011-26 to support all data in both the redacted and unredacted
tables.\3\
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\3\ See, e.g., Docket No. CP2011-26, Notice of the United States
Postal Service of Filing Supplemental Information Under Seal in
Response to Commission Order No. 575, November 12, 2010;
Supplemental Information Provided by the United States Postal
Service in Response to Commission Order No. 575, Question 2 and
Notice of Filing Material Under Seal, November 16, 2010.
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b. Provide a narrative explaining the method used to forecast data
in the referenced tables.
c. Provide attributable costs, revenues, and volumes data for each
product grouped in ``Competitive International (including Services)''
at the same level of detail provided for all other competitive products
in this docket. For each of these international products, explain how
the expected revenues and costs comply with 39 U.S.C. 3633(a).
d. Please explain how the price adjustments for Parcel Select are
consistent with 3633(a) and Docket No. MC2011-22, Order No. 689.\4\
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\4\ Docket No. MC2011-22, Order Conditionally Granting Request
to Transfer Commercial Standard Mail Parcels to the Competitive
Product List, March 2, 2011 (Order No. 689).
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2. Please refer to Governors' Decision No. 11-8. The Postal Service
provides overall price increases for the following products: Express
Mail 3.3 percent, Priority Mail 3.1 percent, Parcel Select 8.5 percent,
Parcel Return Service 4.6 percent, First-Class Package Services 3.7
percent, Premium Forwarding Service 3.4 percent, Address Enhancement
Service 7.3 percent, Global Express Guaranteed 6.0 percent, Express
Mail International 11.6 percent, Priority Mail International 8.7
percent, International Priority Airmail 1.0 percent, International
Surface Airlift 13.7 percent, Airmail M-Bags 3.5 percent, International
Ancillary Services 5.0 percent, and international money orders 4.7
percent. Please describe the weights used to derive the Before Rates
and After Rates indices relied upon to calculate the overall (average)
percentage price increase for each product and service referenced above
similar to the supplemental data filed in Docket No. CP2011-26. ld.
Please show all calculations in Excel, and explain any adjustments made
due to classification changes.
3. Please provide the specific prices assigned to the competitive
Semi-Annual Fees for each Box Size and Fee Group. (Attachment at 141.)
4. The following refers to Note 3 at 142. Please clarify what is
meant regarding the portion of the fee that ``may serve as postage on
packages delivered to competitive Post Office box service customers
after being brought to the Post Office by a private carrier.''
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2012-2 to provide
interested persons an opportunity to express views and offer comments
on whether the planned changes are consistent with the policies of 39
U.S.C. 3632, 3633, or 3642 and 39 CFR part 3015 and 39 CFR 3020,
subpart B.
2. Comments on the Filing are due no later than December 12, 2011.
3. The Commission appoints Natalie R. Ward as Public Representative
to represent the interests of the general public in this proceeding.
4. The Postal Service shall provide a written response to the
supplemental information requested in this order no later than December
5, 2011.
5. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the
Federal Register.
By the Commission.
Ruth Ann Abrams,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-31814 Filed 12-9-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P