New Outbound Commercial Provider Initiative (OCPI) Program Information; Opportunity for Comments, 7659-7660 [2020-28968]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 19 / Monday, February 1, 2021 / Proposed Rules In making such a determination, the agency head must consider certain factors. Taking these factors into account, the Secretary, through the authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, has determined that a negotiated rulemaking is in the public interest because: 1. A rule is needed. The PROGRESS Act directs the Secretary to conduct a negotiated rulemaking pursuant to the NRA. 2. A limited number of identifiable interests will be significantly affected by the rule. 3. There is a reasonable likelihood that the Committee can be convened with a balanced representation of persons who can adequately represent the interests discussed in item 2, above, and who are willing to negotiate in good faith to attempt to reach a consensus on provisions of a proposed rule. 4. There is a reasonable likelihood that the Committee will reach consensus on a proposed rule within a fixed period of time. 5. The use of negotiated rulemaking will not delay the development of a proposed rule because time limits will be placed on the negotiation. We anticipate that these negotiations will expedite a proposed rule and ultimately the acceptance of a final rule. 6. The DOI is making a commitment to ensure that the Committee has sufficient resources to complete its work in a timely fashion. 7. The DOI, to the maximum extent possible and consistent with the legal obligations of the Agency, will use the consensus report of the Committee as the basis for a proposed rule for public notice and comment. For the above reasons, I hereby certify that the Self-Governance PROGRESS Act Negotiated Rulemaking Committee is in the public interest. Tara Sweeney, Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2021–01149 Filed 1–29–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4337–15–P POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 20 New Outbound Commercial Provider Initiative (OCPI) Program Information; Opportunity for Comments Postal ServiceTM. ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; invitation to comment. AGENCY: The Postal Service is providing an advance notification and introduction to the Outbound SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:45 Jan 29, 2021 Jkt 253001 Commercial Provider Initiative (OCPI) program. This document provides general information on the OCPI program, related mailing requirements, and shipping standards. The Postal Service is exploring the advisability of the OCPI program and providing support to mailers to assure their ability to adhere to the new OCPI program guidelines. DATES: Comments on this advance notice are due March 3, 2021. ADDRESSES: Due to the current COVID– 19 pandemic, comments in response to this document will only be accepted via email—any comments or communications sent via fax or mail will not be accepted. When sending communication and comments related to the OCPI program, the following instructions and guidelines apply: • All comments and questions should be sent to the Manager, International Products and Major Accounts, Global Business, at the following email address: ProductClassification@ usps.gov. • Communications must also include the following: Æ Subject Line: OCPI Program Advanced Notice Comments Æ Name of Sender All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment only, at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, Washington, DC 20260. These records are available for review Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by calling 202–268–2906. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Cebello, 202–268–8058; or GlobalBusinessOCPI@usps.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service is providing this notification to set forth the following general information and guidelines for the OCPI program: 1. An overview of the OCPI program with general information to advise and notify USPS customers, partners, and affiliates; 2. Discussion of the countries and specific products that will be serviced through the OCPI program; and 3. Specific changes and requirements associated with the OCPI program, relating to mail preparation, induction, and acceptance, such as: i. Customs Form(s), shipping label(s), and tag(s), PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 7659 ii. New, OCPI-specific Commercial Invoice, and iii. Process changes and requirements related to OCPI service provider destinations 4. References for advanced notifications of OCPI program feature changes. Overview The Postal Service expects to implement these new program service enhancements on or about March 31, 2021. As cross-border eCommerce continues to grow and demand for a variety of shipping solutions continues, the Postal Service has encountered a need to identify alternatives for commercial shipments going through its international mail streams. The Postal Service relies entirely on foreign postal operators to deliver our customer packages worldwide, making outbound shipments subject to several limitations including shipping rates, transit times, and scan visibility. The rapidly expanding eCommerce market coupled with the increase in competition has motivated the Postal Service to explore alternate delivery service channels and competitive market strategies for product offerings in order to provide the services that customers demand, while remaining competitive in the global eCommerce market. The Outbound Commercial Provider Initiative (OCPI) is a strategic program designed to help the Postal Service remain competitive in the cross-border shipping market, whereby it can effectively compete with alternative providers. OCPI also enables the continuity of service in situations where issues arise with foreign postal operators, such as strikes, unfavorable bilateral negotiations, COVID–19 impacts, or significant service issues. Creating an alternative channel also offers opportunities for providing enhanced service options. Additional benefits of the OCPI Program include but are not limited to: • Offering new services that are currently unavailable through the postal channels; • Improving service delivery times because of options to deliver products by commercial suppliers to select countries; and • Providing a more enhanced customer experience, through advancements in customer service and package visibility on international outbound operations. E:\FR\FM\01FEP1.SGM 01FEP1 7660 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 19 / Monday, February 1, 2021 / Proposed Rules OCPI Program Country-Product Service Enhancements The Postal Service will be identifying opportunities and selecting designated country destinations and products for the OCPI program. Destination product and country pairings for OCPI will be the exclusive delivery options, however existing service will continue for destinations for which OCPI solutions are not offered. The products offered through the OCPI program will be international shipping services, limited to Priority Mail Express International® (PMEI®), Priority Mail International (PMI), and First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®). This allows for a more seamless transition for existing customers and mailers and avoids the confusion and capital that would be required to create and launch new dedicated OCPI product offerings. Products such as FCMI letters and Flats, Military Mail, IPA, and ISAL are not within the scope of the OCPI program. After publishing this document, the Postal Service will provide a more detailed description of the applicable OCPI changes to the existing products and procedures for USPS customers. The country-product designated for the OCPI program may change depending on future opportunities identified and potential foreign postal operator-related service disruptions. Mail Preparation For customers that tender shipments to the Postal Service in bulk and or consolidations, all shipments sent to OCPI destinations must be presented separately and in individually prepared receptacles by product class and destination country. Specific products that are destined for OCPI destination countries may not be tendered in any mixed country receptacles. OCPI Commercial Invoices The OCPI program will require mailers to produce commercial invoices and customs forms to comply with commercial customs clearance requirements and differentiate OCPI documentation from existing postal forms. The OCPI program will also require additional recipient information to be provided by the sender (including recipient’s phone number and email address) to comply with commercial clearance processes. The OCPI forms will be made available to mailers via online applications and electronically at USPS retail service counters. OCPI Receptacle Tags and Customs Forms The OCPI program has developed specific receptacle tags and customs VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:45 Jan 29, 2021 Jkt 253001 forms which will allow operations personnel to identify and segregate OCPI products throughout the entire supply chain. In addition to International Mail Manual (IMM) updates, the Postal Service will provide industry notifications to inform all parties of OCPI program changes and provide examples of the new OCPI receptacle tags and customs forms to help integrate changes into the existing operational processes. OCPI Program Features and Service Notifications The Postal Service will provide a minimum of advanced 30-day notification regarding upcoming OCPI services or feature changes via Postal Bulletins articles and PostalPro. Additionally, the Postal Service will provide updated mailer requirements to assist business mailers and provide support throughout the transition process to ensure a smooth transition. Joshua J. Hofer, Attorney, Federal Compliance. [FR Doc. 2020–28968 Filed 1–29–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Parts 2 and 25 [IB Docket No. 20–330; FCC 20–158; FR ID 17347] Commission Rules To Enable GSO Fixed-Satellite Service (Space-to-Earth) Operations in the 17.3–17.8 GHz Band, To Modernize Certain Rules Applicable to 17/24 GHz BSS Space Stations, and To Establish Off-Axis Uplink Power Limits for Extended Ka-Band FSS Operations Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposes to permit geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) space station in the fixed-satellite service (FSS) to operate downlinks (space-to-Earth) in the 17.3– 17.8 GHz frequency band, subject to certain limitations, and also proposes related technical updates to its rules governing the FSS and the BroadcastingSatellite Service to prevent harmful interference. SUMMARY: Comments are due March 3, 2021. Reply comments are due March 18, 2021. DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 You may submit comments, identified by IB Docket No. 20–330, by any of the following methods: D Federal Communications Commission’s Website: https:// apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. D People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202–418–0530 or TTY: 202– 418–0432. For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities, send an email to FCC504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202– 418–0530 (voice), 202–418–0432 (TTY). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean O’More, International Bureau, Satellite Division, 202–418–2453, sean.omore@fcc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 20–158, adopted November 18, 2020, and released November 19, 2020. The full text of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is available at https:// www.fcc.gov/edocs/search-results?t= quick&fccdaNo=20-158. ADDRESSES: Comment Filing Requirements Interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated in the DATES section above. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). • Electronic Filers. Comments may be filed electronically using the internet by accessing the ECFS, https://apps.fcc.gov/ ecfs. • Paper Filers. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. • Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554. • Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the Commission no E:\FR\FM\01FEP1.SGM 01FEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 19 (Monday, February 1, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7659-7660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28968]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


New Outbound Commercial Provider Initiative (OCPI) Program 
Information; Opportunity for Comments

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; invitation to comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is providing an advance notification and 
introduction to the Outbound Commercial Provider Initiative (OCPI) 
program. This document provides general information on the OCPI 
program, related mailing requirements, and shipping standards. The 
Postal Service is exploring the advisability of the OCPI program and 
providing support to mailers to assure their ability to adhere to the 
new OCPI program guidelines.

DATES: Comments on this advance notice are due March 3, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, comments in response 
to this document will only be accepted via email--any comments or 
communications sent via fax or mail will not be accepted.
    When sending communication and comments related to the OCPI 
program, the following instructions and guidelines apply:
     All comments and questions should be sent to the Manager, 
International Products and Major Accounts, Global Business, at the 
following email address: [email protected].
     Communications must also include the following:

[cir] Subject Line: OCPI Program Advanced Notice Comments
[cir] Name of Sender

    All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public 
record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your 
comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for 
public disclosure.
    You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment 
only, at USPS[supreg] Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th 
Floor North, Washington, DC 20260. These records are available for 
review Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by calling 202-268-
2906.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Cebello, 202-268-8058; or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service is providing this 
notification to set forth the following general information and 
guidelines for the OCPI program:
    1. An overview of the OCPI program with general information to 
advise and notify USPS customers, partners, and affiliates;
    2. Discussion of the countries and specific products that will be 
serviced through the OCPI program; and
    3. Specific changes and requirements associated with the OCPI 
program, relating to mail preparation, induction, and acceptance, such 
as:

i. Customs Form(s), shipping label(s), and tag(s),
ii. New, OCPI-specific Commercial Invoice, and
iii. Process changes and requirements related to OCPI service provider 
destinations

    4. References for advanced notifications of OCPI program feature 
changes.

Overview

    The Postal Service expects to implement these new program service 
enhancements on or about March 31, 2021.
    As cross-border eCommerce continues to grow and demand for a 
variety of shipping solutions continues, the Postal Service has 
encountered a need to identify alternatives for commercial shipments 
going through its international mail streams. The Postal Service relies 
entirely on foreign postal operators to deliver our customer packages 
worldwide, making outbound shipments subject to several limitations 
including shipping rates, transit times, and scan visibility. The 
rapidly expanding eCommerce market coupled with the increase in 
competition has motivated the Postal Service to explore alternate 
delivery service channels and competitive market strategies for product 
offerings in order to provide the services that customers demand, while 
remaining competitive in the global eCommerce market.
    The Outbound Commercial Provider Initiative (OCPI) is a strategic 
program designed to help the Postal Service remain competitive in the 
cross-border shipping market, whereby it can effectively compete with 
alternative providers. OCPI also enables the continuity of service in 
situations where issues arise with foreign postal operators, such as 
strikes, unfavorable bilateral negotiations, COVID-19 impacts, or 
significant service issues. Creating an alternative channel also offers 
opportunities for providing enhanced service options. Additional 
benefits of the OCPI Program include but are not limited to:
     Offering new services that are currently unavailable 
through the postal channels;
     Improving service delivery times because of options to 
deliver products by commercial suppliers to select countries; and
     Providing a more enhanced customer experience, through 
advancements in customer service and package visibility on 
international outbound operations.

[[Page 7660]]

OCPI Program Country-Product Service Enhancements

    The Postal Service will be identifying opportunities and selecting 
designated country destinations and products for the OCPI program. 
Destination product and country pairings for OCPI will be the exclusive 
delivery options, however existing service will continue for 
destinations for which OCPI solutions are not offered. The products 
offered through the OCPI program will be international shipping 
services, limited to Priority Mail Express International[supreg] 
(PMEI[supreg]), Priority Mail International (PMI), and First-Class 
Package International Service[supreg] (FCPIS[supreg]). This allows for 
a more seamless transition for existing customers and mailers and 
avoids the confusion and capital that would be required to create and 
launch new dedicated OCPI product offerings. Products such as FCMI 
letters and Flats, Military Mail, IPA, and ISAL are not within the 
scope of the OCPI program. After publishing this document, the Postal 
Service will provide a more detailed description of the applicable OCPI 
changes to the existing products and procedures for USPS customers. The 
country-product designated for the OCPI program may change depending on 
future opportunities identified and potential foreign postal operator-
related service disruptions.

Mail Preparation

    For customers that tender shipments to the Postal Service in bulk 
and or consolidations, all shipments sent to OCPI destinations must be 
presented separately and in individually prepared receptacles by 
product class and destination country. Specific products that are 
destined for OCPI destination countries may not be tendered in any 
mixed country receptacles.

OCPI Commercial Invoices

    The OCPI program will require mailers to produce commercial 
invoices and customs forms to comply with commercial customs clearance 
requirements and differentiate OCPI documentation from existing postal 
forms. The OCPI program will also require additional recipient 
information to be provided by the sender (including recipient's phone 
number and email address) to comply with commercial clearance 
processes. The OCPI forms will be made available to mailers via online 
applications and electronically at USPS retail service counters.

OCPI Receptacle Tags and Customs Forms

    The OCPI program has developed specific receptacle tags and customs 
forms which will allow operations personnel to identify and segregate 
OCPI products throughout the entire supply chain. In addition to 
International Mail Manual (IMM) updates, the Postal Service will 
provide industry notifications to inform all parties of OCPI program 
changes and provide examples of the new OCPI receptacle tags and 
customs forms to help integrate changes into the existing operational 
processes.

OCPI Program Features and Service Notifications

    The Postal Service will provide a minimum of advanced 30-day 
notification regarding upcoming OCPI services or feature changes via 
Postal Bulletins articles and PostalPro. Additionally, the Postal 
Service will provide updated mailer requirements to assist business 
mailers and provide support throughout the transition process to ensure 
a smooth transition.

Joshua J. Hofer,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-28968 Filed 1-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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