Proposed Rule2026-11157
Periodic Reporting
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 4, 2026
Issuing agencies
Postal Regulatory Commission
Abstract
The Commission is acknowledging a recent Postal Service filing requesting the Commission initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider changes to analytical principles relating to periodic reports. This document informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33679-33681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11157]
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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
39 CFR part 3050
[Docket No. RM2026-6; Order No. 9592]
Periodic Reporting
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Commission is acknowledging a recent Postal Service filing
requesting the Commission initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider
changes to analytical
[[Page 33680]]
principles relating to periodic reports. This document informs the
public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other
administrative steps.
DATES: Comments are due: July 27, 2026; Reply Comments are due: August
3, 2026.
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:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Proposal
III. Notice and Comment
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction
On May 28, 2026, the Postal Service filed a petition pursuant to 39
CFR 3050.11 requesting that the Commission initiate a rulemaking
proceeding to consider a proposed change to analytical principles
relating to the Postal Service's periodic reports.\1\ The Petition
identifies the proposed analytical principles change filed in this
docket as updates and refinements to the reporting of window service
costs. Petition, Proposal at 3. Specifically, the Postal Service seeks
to overhaul the existing methodology to correct identified mathematical
and econometric errors and to reflect changes in window service volumes
and operations. Id.
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\1\ Petition of the United States Postal Service to Initiate a
Proceeding to Change Analytical Principles, and Notice of Filing
USPS-RM2026-6-NP1, May 28, 2026 (Petition). The proposed change is
attached to the Petition (Proposal). The Petition was accompanied by
a study supporting its Proposal. See Michael D. Bradley, Updating
and Refining Window Service Costs, May 28, 2026.
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II. Proposal
Background. The Postal Service states that the existing methodology
for reporting window service costs was established in Docket No. R90-1
and refined in Docket Nos. R97-1 and R2006-1. Id. The Postal Service
notes that there have been significant changes in window service volume
and operations since the established methodology was last updated. Id.
The Postal Service also identifies errors in the established
methodology that, when corrected, contradict existing ``assumptions
that both network time and waiting time were one hundred percent
variable with visit time during the late 1980s.'' Id. The Postal
Service additionally identifies data limitations underpinning the
established methodology that can be ameliorated by using modern data
captured using its Retail Systems Software (RSS) point-of-sale system.
Id. at 4.
Proposal. The Postal Service proposes correcting, updating, and/or
refining four of the five variabilities that go into calculating volume
variable window service costs. Id. at 5. Visit time variability is
proposed to be updated using RSS data, the application of Stochastic
Frontier Analysis (SFA) to account for non-item time, and a revised
method for directly estimating the response in visits to changes in
window service volumes. Id. at 5-9. Network variability is proposed to
be updated by correcting a mistaken formula in the established
methodology and making improvements to comport with current Commission
standards. Id. at 9-10. Waiting time variability is proposed to be
updated to adjust assumptions in the established methodology and to
account for the decline in window service volume. Id. at 10-14. Non-
acceptance variability is proposed to be updated to correct an implicit
variability for non-acceptance costs of 100 percent. Id. at 14-15.
Impact. The proposed changes would decrease the affected
variabilities, which would cause a corresponding decrease in volume
variable window service costs. See id. at 15-17. The claimed impacts on
window service costs are:
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Established Proposed unit Unit WS cost
Product unit WS cost WS cost change
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First-Class Mail................................................ $0.007 $0.003 -$0.004
USPS Marketing Mail............................................. 0.002 0.001 -0.001
Periodicals..................................................... 0.0014 0.0006 -0.0008
Package Services................................................ 0.049 0.028 -0.021
Domestic Competitive Products................................... 0.096 0.049 -0.047
Certified Mail.................................................. 0.652 0.431 -0.221
Money Orders.................................................... 2.032 0.978 -1.053
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Id. at 17. The claimed impacts on unit costs range from -0.3
percent to -.0 percent for First-Class Mail; -0.1 percent to -1.4
percent for USPS Marketing Mail; -0.1 percent to -0.7 percent for
Periodicals; -0.1 percent to -2.5 percent for Package Services; -12.1
percent to -37.1 percent for Ancillary Services, and average -1.4
percent for domestic Competitive products.\2\
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\2\ Id. at 20. For Market Dominant products, a full breakdown by
product of the claimed impact on unit costs can be found in Table 2
in the Proposal. See id.
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III. Notice and Comment
Pursuant to 39 CFR 3050.11(d)(1), the Commission establishes Docket
No. RM2026-6 to consider the matters raised by the Petition. More
information on the Petition may be accessed via the Commission's
website at <a href="https://www.prc.gov">https://www.prc.gov</a>. Interested persons may submit comments
on the Petition and the Proposal no later than July 27, 2026. Reply
comments are due August 3, 2026. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Madison
Lichtenstein is designated as an officer of the Commission (Public
Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in
this proceeding. The Public Representative does not represent any
individual person, entity or particular point of view, and, when
Commission attorneys are appointed, no attorney-client relationship is
established.
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2026-6 to consider the
matters raised by the Petition of the United States Postal Service to
Initiate a Proceeding to Change Analytical Principles, and Notice of
Filing USPS-RM2026-6-NP-1, filed May 28, 2026.
2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Madison
Lichtenstein to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public
Representative) to
[[Page 33681]]
represent the interests of the general public in this docket.
3. Comments by interested persons in this proceeding are due no
later than July 27, 2026.
4. Reply Comments are due August 3, 2026.
5. This Order, or abstract thereof, shall be published in the
Federal Register.
By the Commission.
Mallory S. Richards,
Attorney-Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2026-11157 Filed 6-3-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P
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