Postal Regulatory Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commission is proposing rules affecting accounting practices, an assumed Federal income tax, and periodic reporting for the Postal Service's competitive products enterprise. The rules are intended to promote transparency and accountability without imposing undue burden on the Postal Service. Issuance of this proposal responds to a recent law that revised the Postal Service's business model and gave the Commission new oversight responsibilities. Comments will assist the Commission in developing final rules.

This document announces the filing of three Postal Service notices regarding Global Expedited Package Service (GEPS) contracts and related Commission review. Publication of this document satisfies procedural requirements. It also allows interested persons an opportunity to comment.

Under a new law, the Postal Service must file an annual compliance report with the Postal Regulatory Commission on costs, revenues, rates, and quality of service associated with its products. It has filed documents with the Commission to change some of the methods it uses to compile the fiscal year 2008 report. In the Commission's view, these documents constitute a rulemaking petition. Therefore, it has established a rulemaking docket to allow the public to comment on potential changes in periodic reporting rules.

The Commission is adding several recently-negotiated Global Express Package Service contracts to the competitive product list. This action is consistent with changes in a recent law governing postal operations. Re-publication of the lists of market dominant and competitive products is also consistent with new requirements in the law.

The Commission is proposing rules on the treatment of non- public material submitted by the Postal Service. Issuance of this proposal will allow interested parties to comment on the Commission's approach to implementing a new statutory requirement.

The Commission has established formal dockets to consider a formal request to add a new product to the competitive product list for prices not of general applicability and incorporates a notice of execution of two related contracts. The Commission's action will provide for public input and for a review to determine consistency with applicable statutory requirements.

The Commission has initiated a case to address allegations of undue discrimination and other issues raised by Capital One Services, Inc. (Capital One) in a formal complaint. The allegations stem from Capital One's interest in obtaining a rate agreement from the Postal Service on terms that are the same as or similar to those another major mailer has received. Accepting the case will provide an opportunity for review of pertinent issues.

This document announces the Postal Service's filing of a notice concerning the addition of an Express Mail contract to the competitive product list. It also announces a related Commission review.

The Commission is adding the Postal Service's negotiated agreement with Global Plus to the competitive product list. This action is consistent with changes in a recent law governing postal operations. Re-publication of the lists of market dominant and competitive products is also consistent with new requirements in the law.

The Postal Regulatory Commission published a document in the Federal Register on June 25, 2008 seeking comments on a plan for service performance measurement and reporting systems for market dominant products. The document contained several errors the Commission wishes to correct.

Changes in the law governing the nation's postal system mandate adoption of service performance measurement and reporting systems for market dominant products, which include First-Class Mail. This notice presents a service measurement and reporting plan for public review and comment. The comments will assist the Commission in formulating its position on the plan.

A new law gives the Postal Service considerable pricing flexibility for competitive products. Pursuant to this authority, the Postal Service has filed two notices with the Commission concerning prices for Global Expedited Package Services (GEPS) contracts, which is in the competitive category. The Commission has established a consolidated docket for consideration of these pricing decisions. This will allow interested persons an opportunity to comment.

This document announces a formal docket to consider transferring the classification of Premium Forwarding Service from the market dominant products list to the competitive products list. It solicits comments to assist in this task.

The Commission seeks comments from the public on a study of a postal rule that allows certain fundraising mailings to be sent at reduced rates. The comments will assist the Commission in preparing a statutorily-required report and recommendations.

On Thursday, March 27, 2008, Postal Regulatory Commissioners and advisory staff members will observe the Flats Sequencing System at the Postal Service's facility at Dulles Airport in Chantilly, Virginia.

The Postal Regulatory Commission published a document in the Federal Register on November 9, 2007 (72 FR 63662), adopting new rules. That document inadvertently misidentified, in section 3020.91, the length of time for the Postal Service to file a notice of certain types of corrections to product descriptions in the Mail Classification Schedule and mischaracterized, in section 3020.93, the scope of a product list. This document corrects the final regulations by revising these sections.

Postal Regulatory Commissioners and advisory staff members will tour the Valpak Manufacturing Center in St. Petersburg, Florida on January 14, 2008, and the GameFly plant in Tampa, Florida on January 15, 2008. The purpose is to observe and discuss mailing operations.

As required by 39 U.S.C. 3652, the Postal Service has filed an Annual Compliance Report with the Postal Regulatory Commission on the costs, revenues, rates, and quality of service associated with its products in fiscal year 2007. Within 90 days, the Commission must evaluate that information and issue its determination as to whether rates were in compliance with title 39, chapter 36 and whether service standards in effect were met. To assist in this, the Commission seeks public comments on the Postal Service's FY 2007 Annual Compliance Report.

This document informs the public that the Commission is seeking comments on proposed service standard measurement and reporting systems for market dominant products. The proposal responds to provisions in a law enacted this year which require consultation between the Commission and the Postal Service on the establishment of service standards. The law also requires the use of an objective external measurement, unless the Commission approves an internal measurement system. Comments will assist the Commission in carrying out its legal obligations. This document identifies revised comment deadlines and reflects minor changes, reformatting, and footnote numbering.

On Tuesday, December 4, and Wednesday, December 5, 2007, Postal Regulatory Commissioners and advisory staff members will tour the United Parcel Service facility in Louisville, Kentucky and meet with company officials. The purpose of the tour is to observe company operations.

A recently-enacted federal law directs the Commission to develop rules to implement a new postal ratemaking system. This document responds to that directive by adopting rules addressing market dominant and competitive products, including negotiated service agreements, the regulatory calendar, and product lists. Adoption of the rules allows the Postal Service and mailers to begin to exercise its options under the new law.

On Monday, September 24, 2007, the Commission will host two public meetings related to implementation of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) of 2006. Information obtained at these events will assist the Commission in meeting statutory requirements for consultation with the Postal Service on development of modern service standards. At the first meeting, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., representatives of the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) will brief the Commission on final MTAC workgroup recommendations to the Postal Service on service standards and service measurement systems. This meeting will be broadcast live and will be accessible via the Internet from the Commission's Web site (https:// www.prc.gov). At the second meeting, which will begin at 1:30 p.m., there will be a discussion of retail service measurement and related issues with representatives of the American Postal Workers Union. Both events will be held in the Commission's main conference room and both will be open to the public.