Postal Rate Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Commission rules include five sets of rules with sunset provisions. The Commission proposes to reissue four of these sets of rules with limited revisions. These include shortening and standardizing the intervention period (where applicable); eliminating the sunset provisions and, in one set, redesignating provisions to conform to Office of Federal Register style and making minor editorial revisions. Reissuance of these sets of rules, as revised, will allow the Service to have continued flexibility and will enhance administrative efficiency. The Commission seeks comments on whether the other set of rules (for certain Express Mail requests) should be reissued.

This order announces a mail classification docket to consider a proposal to amend the definition of ``nominal rate'' subscription for publications in the Periodicals class. Estabishing this docket will allow interested persons to participate in the Commission's consideration of the proposed change, which liberalizes the current definition. It will also allow them to comment on the appropriateness of treating the case on an expedited basis. The order identifies preliminary procedural steps, including appointment of the Postal Service as settlement coordinator.

This document informs the public that the United States Postal Service has filed a request for a decision on proposed changes in essentially all domestic postage rate and fee changes, along with proposed classification changes. It identifies several procedural steps the Commission has taken in response to the filing. The request reflects a system-wide average increase of 8.5 percent; however, there are limited (and in some instances, significant) exceptions.

This order announces a mail classification docket to consider and clarify domestic mail classification schedule language pertaining to Express Mail Second Day service. The proposed change, if adopted, will help clarify delivery guarantees.

This document informs the public that the Postal Service and Washington Mutual Bank (WMB) are seeking Commission approval of an agreement they have reached involving discounted First-Class Mail rates for certain WMB solicitation mail. The document describes the agreement, identifies certain preliminary decisions, and addresses procedural steps, including key deadlines.

Postal Rate Commissioners and advisory staff members will tour Bank of America Corporation mailing operations facilities in New Castle, Delaware on March 22, 2006.

This document announces the appointment of an officer to represent the interests of the general public in a pending case. This appointment fulfills a statutory requirement.

Postal Rate Commissioners and advisory staff members will tour several newspaper, courier and postal facilities in Florida on March 5- 7, 2006. Sites include the Miami Herald (in Miami); the Sun-Sentinel (in Fort Lauderdale), both on March 5; DHL Global Mail (in Fort Lauderdale) on March 6; and the Postal Service's International mail facility (in Miami) on March 7. The purpose is to view and discuss the newspapers' mailing-related operations; to observe DHL's operations and discuss how it interfaces with the Postal Service; and to examine Postal Service international mail operations.

This order informs the public that the Postal Service has filed a case with the Commission on the proposed realignment of the Nation's mail processing and transportation network. The realignment is expected to have an impact on delivery service standards. The order, among other things, addresses initial steps in the case, identifies key dates, and directs interested parties to the Commission's Web site for pertinent documents.

On February 22, 2006, the Commission will host a presentation by Pitney Bowes on the future of mail. Topics will include, among others, the evolution of substitution models; volume forecasting comparisons; technology; pricing; regulation; and human and ethnographic factors. The briefing will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Commission's hearing room.

This document addresses adding a definition of the term ``postal service'' to the rules of practice. This change is prompted by the Postal Service's action with respect to nonpostal initiatives. There is often controversy and uncertainty regarding the postal character of the services provided under those initiatives. The definition provides guidance to the Postal Service and the general public concerning services that are subject to sections 3622 and 3623 of the Postal Reorganization Act.

Parcel Return Service (PRS), which the Postal Service currently offers on an experimental basis for two parcel post rate categories, was scheduled to expire October 19, 2003. Shortly before the expiration date, the Service filed a request to establish one of these categories (Parcel Select) as a permanent offering and to allow users to purchase an optional ancillary service (Certificate of Mailing). Participants in the experiment were not eligible for this ancillary service during the experimental stage. The Service's request triggered an automatic extension of the October 19, 2005 expiration date for Parcel Select. Given no participation in the other experimental category (Bound Printed Matter), the Service does not seek to make it permanent, and it expired as scheduled. This document establishes a formal docket to address the requested change in status for the PRS Parcel Select category and identifies several initial steps, including authorization of settlement negotiations.

The Commission will serve as a general host for a visiting delegation from PostEurop on October 11 through 14, 2005. The agenda includes briefings on Commission operations, functions and activities, as well as related issues, such as postal reform, efficient component pricing, negotiated service agreements, worksharing, and distinctions between domestic and European postal models. It also includes Postal Service briefings, a postal facility tour, meetings with members of Congress and their staff, and discussions with mailers.

The Commission is adopting minor nomenclature changes in provisions appearing in the Code of Federal Regulations, including the rules of practice. The changes reflect the agency's relocation of its physical offices. Adoption of these changes will provide the public with accurate information about the Commission's new address.

This document establishes a docket for consideration of the Postal Service's request for approval of a baseline negotiated service agreement with Bookspan. It identifies key elements of the proposed agreement, which involves Standard Mail letter rates; its relationship to the Capital One Services, Inc. negotiated service agreement; and addresses preliminary procedural matters.

Postal Rate Commission personnel will observe operations at the United States Postal Service facility in Merrifield, Virginia on Thursday, May 19, 2005, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.; and on Wednesday, May 25, 2005, between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

On April 5, 2005, briefings on the Commission's role in rate setting and on greeting card industry issues will take place in the Commission's conference room. Participants will include Commissioners, greeting card industry executives, and staff.

This document establishes a docket for consideration of the Postal Service's request for approval of a negotiated service agreement with HSBC North America Holdings Inc. It identifies key elements of the proposed agreement, its relationship to the Capital One Services, Inc. negotiated service agreement, and addresses preliminary procedural matters.

On February 15, 2005, senior staff will describe the current functions and procedures of the Postal Rate Commission to executives of business mail users that utilize all classes of mail. Members of the Commission will attend and participate in discussion following the presentation.

This document addresses the solicitation of comments in a proceeding to consider potential changes to the Commission rules for considering functionally equivalent Negotiated Service Agreements. These comments will be used to evaluate whether improvements should be made to the rules to facilitate the Commission's review of future requests predicated on functionally equivalent Negotiated Service Agreements.