Notice2024-19551
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
August 30, 2024
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 proposed changes to its processing and transportation networks and revisions to its service standards to align with these changes. This document informs the public of this proceeding and the pre-filing conference, and takes other administrative steps.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 169 (Friday, August 30, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 169 (Friday, August 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70673-70674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19551]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. N2024-1; Order No. 7414]
Service Standard Changes
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Commission is acknowledging a filing by the Postal Service
of its intent to conduct a pre-filing conference regarding proposed
changes to its processing and transportation networks and revisions to
its service standards to align with these changes. This document
informs the public of this proceeding and the pre-filing conference,
and takes other administrative steps.
DATES: Pre-filing conference: September 5, 2024, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.,
eastern daylight time--Virtual Online.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing
Online system at <a href="https://www.prc.gov">https://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 August
22, 2024, the Postal Service filed a notice of its intent to conduct a
pre-filing conference on September 5, 2024, regarding proposed changes
to its processing and transportation networks and revisions to its
service standards to align with these changes.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Notice of Pre-Filing Conference, August 22, 2024, at 1
(Notice).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As part of its Delivering for America strategic plan, the Postal
Service intends to implement certain initiatives to ``to achieve
greater operational precision and efficiency, significantly reduce
costs, and enhance service.'' \2\ Specifically, the Postal Service
intends to create a network of regional processing and distribution
centers or campuses (RPDCs) and local processing centers (LPCs). Notice
at 3. It also intends to implement a Regional Transportation
Optimization (RTO) initiative to transform its transportation network.
Id. The RTO initiative is an evolution of the Local Transportation
Optimization (LTO) initiative that the Postal Service asserts had been
piloted in certain geographic areas. Id. The Postal Service estimates
that these initiatives will result in costs savings between $2.8
billion to $3.3 billion per year once fully implemented. Id. at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Notice at 3; see also United States Postal Service,
Delivering for America: Our Vision and Ten-Year Plan to Achieve
Financial Sustainability and Service Excellence, March 23, 2021,
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>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To align with these initiatives, the Postal Service proposes to
change its service standards for end-to-end Market Dominant and
Competitive products. Id. The Postal Service states that it will
transition from plant-to-plant (i.e., 3-Digit to 3-Digit ZIP Code) to
Post Office to Post Office (i.e., 5-Digit to 5-Digit ZIP Code) service
standards that ``maintain the existing delivery day ranges for both
First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage while accurately and
logically reflecting the three operational legs applicable to the
movement of mail and packages: collection to origin processing (Leg 1),
origin processing to destination processing (Leg 2), and destination
processing to delivery (Leg 3).'' Id. The Postal Service also plans to
revise the service standards for end-to-end USPS Marketing Mail and
Package Services so that they are based on the standards for First-
Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage. Id. at 4-5. In addition, the
Postal Service plans to exclude Sundays and holidays as transit days
for mail and packages entered on a Saturday or the day before a
holiday. Id. at 5.
The Postal Service states that ``these revisions will create
standards that are more operationally precise and specific for
customers, enable the Postal Service to maintain or upgrade the service
standards for a majority of volume, and enhance the Postal Service's
ability to reliably achieve [its] standards.'' Id. at 4. The Postal
Service claims that most volume will retain the same service standard
or see service standard improvements, but some mail and packages will
experience a longer service standard. Id. at 5. Although it may
implement discrete aspects of these initiatives due to pilot testing,
the Postal Service states that the proposed service standard changes
will not be implemented until the next calendar year and will not
impact Election Mail or Peak Season 2024. Id. at 6-7.
The pre-filing conference regarding the proposed changes will be
held virtually on September 5, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. eastern
daylight time (EDT). Id. at 1, 7. At this conference, Postal Service
representatives capable of discussing the Postal Service's proposal
will be available to educate the public and to allow interested persons
to provide feedback to the Postal Service. Id. Registration
instructions are available at <a href="https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america/details.htm">https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america/details.htm</a>. Id. at 7. Unless all
available spaces are taken sooner, registration is open until September
3, 2024, at 12 p.m. EDT. Id.
The Commission establishes Docket No. N2024-1 to consider the
Postal Service's proposed initiatives and accompanying revisions to its
service standards. 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. 39 CFR 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. 39 CFR 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. N2024-1.
Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3661(c) and 39 CFR 3020.111(d), the
Commission appoints Ping Gong 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.
[[Page 70674]]
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket No. N2024-1 to consider the
Postal Service's proposed changes to the service standards for end-to-
end Market Dominant and Competitive products to align with certain
operational initiatives.
2. The Postal Service shall conduct a virtual pre-filing conference
regarding its proposal on September 5, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00
p.m. EDT.
3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3661(c) and 39 CFR 3020.111(d), Ping Gong
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. 2024-19551 Filed 8-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 30, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.