Proposed Rule2026-00902
System for Regulating Rates and Classes for Market Dominant Products
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
January 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Postal Regulatory Commission
Abstract
The Commission sets a deadline for interested persons to request, by petition in the instant proceedings, that the Commission consider specific proposals for modifications to the ratemaking system or for an alternative system.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 11 (Friday, January 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2093-2094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00902]
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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
39 CFR Part 3030
[Docket Nos. RM2021-2, RM2022-5, RM2022-6, and RM2024-4; Order No.
9427]
RIN 3211-AA37
System for Regulating Rates and Classes for Market Dominant
Products
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of procedural order.
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SUMMARY: The Commission sets a deadline for interested persons to
request, by petition in the instant proceedings, that the Commission
consider specific proposals for modifications to the ratemaking system
or for an alternative system.
DATES: The deadline by petition for modifications to the ratemaking
system or for an alternative system: February 17, 2026. The responses
to any petition (including the Postal Service Petitions) is due: March
2, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at
202-789-6820.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Background
III. Procedural Order
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction
The Commission sets a deadline for interested persons, in
accordance with 39 CFR 3010.201(b), to request, by petition in the
instant proceedings, that the Commission consider specific proposals
for modifications to the ratemaking system or for an alternative
system. The deadline for such petitions is 30 days after the date of
publication of this Order in the Federal Register. On December 22,
2025, the Postal Service filed two petitions. United States Postal
Service Petition for Rulemaking to Repeal the Minimum Remittance
Payment Requirement, December 22, 2025; United States Postal Service
Petition for Rulemaking to Modify the Market-Dominant Ratemaking System
to Achieve Objectives 5 and 8, December 22, 2025 (Postal Service
Petitions). Responses to any petition (including the Postal Service
Petitions) shall be due 44 days after the date of publication of this
Order in the Federal Register.
II. Background
On April 5, 2024, the Commission initiated Docket No. RM2024-4 to
review the Ratemaking System to determine whether the ratemaking system
is achieving the objectives appearing in 39 U.S.C. 3622(b), taking into
account the factors in 39 U.S.C. 3622(c).\1\ This docket incorporated
several other related dockets including RM2021-2, the Commission's
examination of a potential Performance Incentive Mechanism. After
notice and opportunity for public comment, the Commission determined
that the ratemaking system is not achieving such
[[Page 2094]]
objectives, taking into account such factors.\2\
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\1\ Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Statutory
Review of the System for Regulating Rates and Classes for Market
Dominant Products, April 5, 2024 (Order No. 7032).
\2\ See Order Presenting Findings on the Statutory Review of the
System for Regulating Rates and Classes for Market Dominant Products
(Phase 1 Completion), June 9, 2025 (Order No. 8891).
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On June 9, 2025, the Commission indicated that it would ``proceed
using a phased approach to consider modifications necessary to achieve
the statutory objectives.'' \3\ The Commission stated that, under this
approach, it ``expects to issue multiple notices of proposed
rulemaking.'' Order No. 8892 at 2. Among other things, the Commission
provided guidance for proposals by interested persons. See id. at 5.
The Commission noted that ``[i]nterested persons, in accordance with
[39 CFR 3010.201] and other applicable procedural rules, may request,
by petition, that the Commission consider specific proposals for
modifications to the R[at]emaking System or for an alternative
system.'' Id. The Commission subsequently reiterated this guidance.\4\
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\3\ Procedural Order on Phased Rulemaking, June 9, 2025, at 1-2
(Order No. 8892).
\4\ See Order Denying Motions for Reconsideration, July 24,
2025, at 31-32 (Order No. 9042).
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Also on June 9, 2025, the Commission issued Order No. 8893, the
first such notice of proposed rulemaking, and initiated Phase 2(a) of
the instant proceedings.\5\ Various commenters filed comments in
response to Order No. 8893.\6\ Of these, several commenters expressed
interest in further information about next steps in the instant
proceedings or advocated that certain topics be considered in the next
phase of the instant proceedings.\7\
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\5\ Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Statutory Review of the
System for Regulating Rates and Classes for Market Dominant Products
(Phase 2a Initiation) (Order No. 8893).
\6\ Order Adopting Rules Limiting Frequency of Rate Increases
Above the de minimis Threshold and Adding Criteria for Workshare
Discounts for Market Dominant Products (Phase 2a Completion),
January 13, 2026, at Section VII (Order No. 9426) (identifying
comments).
\7\ See id. (considering comments); Comments of Alliance of
Nonprofit Mailers, July 28, 2025, at 13 (``ask[ing] the Commission
to propose further modifications that restrain the magnitude of the
Postal Service's pricing authority as soon as possible''); Comments
of the Greeting Card Association on Order No. 8893, July 28, 2025,
at 8 (``The Commission, however, should include in the next phase of
this rulemaking an initiative to do away with the density-based
pricing authority.''); United States Postal Service Reply Comments
in Response to Order No. 8893, August 7, 2025, at 28 (commenting
that the Commission should proceed to considering the ratemaking
system's ``failure . . . to provide adequate revenues for financial
stability and to uphold the Postal Service's financial integrity'');
cf. Comments of the Association for Postal Commerce, July 28, 2025,
at 2, 8-10 (suggesting consideration of density rate authority).
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On January 13, 2026, the Commission finalized the rules proposed in
Order No. 8893. See Order No. 9426. In doing so, the Commission
declined to provide further information about next steps in the instant
proceeding. Id. at Section VII. The Commission observed that interested
persons still might submit proposals for rule changes, and the
Commission was not able to predict the content of any such proposals
that may be submitted. Id. However, the Commission also stated that
interested persons had had several months in which to prepare
proposals, and commenters expressed interest in the next steps in the
instant proceedings. Id. Consequently, the Commission stated that it
would set a deadline for the submission of such proposals in the
instant proceedings by procedural order. Id. The Commission now issues
this procedural order.
III. Procedural Order
Petitions under 39 CFR 3010.201(b)(1) for modifications of the
ratemaking system, or for adoption of an alternative system, pursuant
to 39 U.S.C. 3622(d)(3) in the instant proceedings are due no later
than 30 days from the date of publication of this Order in the Federal
Register. Any person may file such a petition. See 39 CFR
3010.201(b)(1). Petitions must provide all of the information specified
by 39 CFR 3010.201(b)(1)(i) through 39 CFR 3010.201(b)(1)(v). The
Commission will consider complete, timely-filed petitions in the
instant proceedings.\8\ Responses to any petition (including the Postal
Service Petitions) shall be due 44 days from the date of publication of
this Order in the Federal Register.
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\8\ Nothing in this Order restricts any person from petitioning
the Commission under 39 CFR 3010.201(b)(1) at any time. However,
petitions that do not comply with the deadline established in this
Order, or that do not contain information required by 39 CFR
3010.201(b)(1), should not be expected to be considered as part of
the instant proceedings. On October 16, 2025, the Greeting Card
Association (GCA) filed an Additional Suggestion, which, in its
view, ``may . . . be deemed a [39 CFR 3010.201(b)(1)] petition.''
Docket No. RM2024-4, et al., Additional Suggestion, October 16,
2025, at 1 (GCA Additional Suggestion); see id. at 4. However, the
GCA Additional Suggestion does not include specific proposals,
including specific language, in regard to the subject matter of the
GCA Additional Suggestion. See 39 CFR 3010.201(b)(1)(iii). In
addition, GCA is reminded of its obligation to comply with Rule
124(c) of the rules of practice, which provides that the title of a
document filed with the Commission ``shall identify each participant
on whose behalf the filing is made . . . .'' 39 CFR 3010.124(c).
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Upon consideration of such petitions, the Commission plans to issue
a notice and order establishing one or more new phases of the instant
proceedings to address any changes proposed in such petitions that the
Commission, in its discretion, decides to pursue and such additional
proposals as the Commission may make. See 39 CFR 3010.201(b)(2). The
Commission intends to expedite consideration of such proposals. In
addition, before closing this docket, the Commission will explain any
decision to reject or defer consideration of a petition. See id.
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. This Order, or abstract thereof, shall be published in the
Federal Register.
2. The deadline for interested persons, in accordance with 39 CFR
3010.201(b), to request, by petition in the instant proceedings, that
the Commission consider specific proposals for modifications to the
ratemaking system or for an alternative system is no later than 30 days
from the date of publication of this Order in the Federal Register.
3. Responses to any petition (including the Postal Service
Petitions) shall be due 44 days from the date of publication of this
Order in the Federal Register.
By the Commission.
Mallory S. Richards,
Attorney-Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2026-00902 Filed 1-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 16, 2026.
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