Notice2021-11517
Service Standard Changes
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 2, 2021
Issuing agencies
Postal Regulatory Commission
Abstract
The Commission is acknowledging a filing by the Postal Service of its intent to conduct a pre-filing conference regarding its proposed changes to the service standards for First-Class Package Services. This document informs the public of this proceeding and the pre-filing conference, and takes other administrative steps.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 104 (Wednesday, June 2, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29600-29601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11517]
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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. N2021-2; Order No. 5900]
Service Standard Changes
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Commission is acknowledging a filing by the Postal Service
of its intent to conduct a pre-filing conference regarding its proposed
changes to the service standards for First-Class Package Services. This
document informs the public of this proceeding and the pre-filing
conference, and takes other administrative steps.
DATES: Pre-filing conference: June 8, 2021, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.,
Eastern Daylight Time--Virtual Online.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing
Online system at <a href="http://www.prc.gov">http://www.prc.gov</a>. Those who cannot submit comments
electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section by telephone for advice on filing
alternatives.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at
202-789-6820.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 39 CFR 3020.111(d), on May 25,
2021, the Postal Service filed a notice of its intent to conduct a pre-
filing conference regarding its proposed changes to the service
standards for First-Class Package Services.\1\ Due to the COVID-19
pandemic, the conference will be held virtually on June 8, 2021, from
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). See Notice at 1, 3.
At this conference, Postal Service representatives capable of
discussing the policy rationale for its proposal will be available to
educate the public and to allow interested persons to provide feedback
to the Postal Service that it can use to modify or refine its proposal
before formally filing a request for an
[[Page 29601]]
advisory opinion from the Commission. See id. The registration
instructions, which are available at <a href="https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america/#conference">https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america/#conference</a>, direct interested
persons to a website to register to participate using Zoom, and state
that ``[s]pace is limited. Unless all available spaces are taken, you
will have until June 1, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. EDT to register.''
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\1\ Notice of Pre-Filing Conference, May 25, 2021 (Notice).
First-Class Package Services ``is a mailing service available for
lightweight packages--for retail mailers, the weight of the package
cannot exceed 13 ounces; for commercial mailers, the weight of the
package cannot exceed 15.999 ounces.'' Notice at 1, n.1.
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The Commission establishes Docket No. N2021-2 to consider the
Postal Service's proposed changes to the service standards for First-
Class Package Services. In conjunction with the announcement of its 10-
Year Strategic Plan,\2\ the Postal Service proposes to revise the
existing service standards for First-Class Package Services, which
would ``generally affect service on a nationwide or substantially
nationwide basis.'' Notice at 1 (quoting 39 U.S.C. 3661(b)). The Postal
Service asserts that its proposed approach would be similar to the
changes proposed to Market Dominant First-Class Mail (letter- and flat-
shaped mailpieces) in Docket N2021-1, because the First-Class Package
Services service standards would also be adjusted to account for
additional drive time between origin and destination processing
facilities. See Notice at 2. However, the actual service standards that
the Postal Service proposes to apply to First-Class Package Services
would diverge from those proposed for First-Class Mail. See id.
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\2\ See United States Postal Service, Delivering for America:
Our Vision and Ten-Year Plan to Achieve Financial Sustainability and
Service Excellence, March 23, 2021, at 53, available at <a href="https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america/assets/USPS_Delivering-For-America.pdf">https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america/assets/USPS_Delivering-For-America.pdf</a>.
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Specifically, the Postal Service states that its proposal for
First-Class Package Services would expand the drive time for the 2-Day
service standard to allow additional drive time to certain processing
facilities. See id. Additionally, within the contiguous United States,
the Postal Service states that its proposal would narrow the scope of
the existing 3-Day service standard; instead the 4-Day and 5-Day
service standards would apply to certain First-Class Package Services
traveling longer distances between origin and destination processing
facilities. Id. Moreover, within the non-contiguous United States and
certain territories, the Postal Service plans to increase service
standards by up to one day. Id. The Postal Service adds that a 4-Day
service standard would apply for certain volume, while all other volume
to non-contiguous destinations would be subject to the 5-Day service
standard. Id.
The Postal Service must file its formal request for an advisory
opinion with the Commission at least 90 days before implementing any of
the proposed changes. 39 CFR 3020.112. This formal request must certify
that the Postal Service has made good faith efforts to address the
concerns raised at the pre-filing conference and meet other content
requirements. Id. section 3020.113. After the Postal Service files the
formal request for an advisory opinion, the Commission will set forth a
procedural schedule and provide additional information in a notice and
order that will be published in the Federal Register. Id. section
3020.110. Before issuing its advisory opinion, the Commission must
provide an opportunity for a formal, on-the-record hearing pursuant to
5 U.S.C. 556 and 557. 39 U.S.C. 3661(c). The procedural rules in 39 CFR
part 3020 apply to Docket No. N2021-2.
Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3661(c) and 39 CFR 3020.111(d), the
Commission appoints Mallory L. Smith to represent the interests of the
general public (Public Representative) in this proceeding. Pursuant to
39 CFR 3020.111(d), the Secretary shall arrange for publication of this
Order in the Federal Register.
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket No. N2021-2 to consider the
Postal Service's proposed changes to the service standards for First-
Class Package Services.
2. The Postal Service shall conduct a virtual pre-filing conference
regarding its proposal on June 8, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time.
3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3661(c) and 39 CFR 3020.111(d), Mallory L.
Smith is appointed to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public
Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in
this proceeding.
4. Pursuant to 39 CFR 3020.111(d), the Secretary shall arrange for
publication of this order in the Federal Register.
By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-11517 Filed 6-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P
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