Tag: PRC

Postal Regulatory Comission – Strategical and Operational Plan

Posted by | Mar 7, 2008 | |

Dan G. Blair, Chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, today formally released the Commission’s first Strategic and Operational Plan that details the agency’s vision and goals over the next five years. “This Plan outlines the strategies and activities that the Commission will use to help ensure transparency and accountability of the U.S. Postal Service and to foster a vital and efficient universal mail system,” said Blair.

The Plan incorporates responsibilities established by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) and will guide the Commission as it implements the key provisions of the Act. By emphasizing the operational work that must be accomplished over the next five years, the Commission will evaluate its progress and performance on the strategic goals outlined in the Plan. The report identifies seven key strategic goals, with short-term and on-going strategies: Modern Rate and Product Regulation – Establish and maintain a predictable, transparent, and effective system of rate and product regulation. Service Performance Evaluation – Ensure appropriate and transparent U.S. Postal Service performance standards and measurements to promote an efficient, effective and responsive mail service. Financial Accountability and Compliance – Ensure transparent, accurate and informative U.S. Postal Service data reporting sufficient for evaluation of financial performance. Complaint Process – Ensure U.S. Postal Service accountability through a fair and open public complaint process that provides appropriate and timely resolution. Public Participation and Government Relations – Ensure the Commission is visible and readily accessible to all stakeholders. – Human Capital – Ensure a system that fosters recruitment, development and retention of a talented and skilled workforce. Program Integration and Support – Utilize latest technology, operational systems, and organizational infrastructure in achieving Commission goals.

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DMNews talks with Dan G. Blair, chairman, Postal Regulatory Commission

Posted by | Jan 21, 2008 | |

Q: How would you describe the PRC’s role in relation to the USPS?
A: The role of the PRC is to ensure transparency and accountability of the US Postal Service. As chairman, I exer¬cise day-to-day control over the adminis¬trative process of the commission, which comprises five full-time commissioners who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Q: Following the passage of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006, how has the role of the PRC changed?
A: Under the old law we were primar¬ily involved in rate adjustment cases in which there would be 10-month litigation. And the commission had to recuse itself from the outside world and not have contact with mailers or other parties. Now, under the new law, we’re transforming more into the role of a regulator with more oversight authority that gives us the ability to reach out more to the community. We now hear from individual mailers, nonprofit groups, magazine publishers. I want to encourage that, because our role requires that we have an open and continuing dialogue with the public as well as with the postal service.
Q: You just completed your first year as chairman. What were the PRC’s ma¬jor accomplishments in the past year?
A: When I came on in December of 2006, we were at the tail end of a rate case under the old law. We got that out about five days ahead of schedule. We also got the new rate regulations out in October of 2007, eight months early. That was significant because first, it showed we could get up and ready un¬der the new law rather than proceeding under the old law, and second, by get¬ting the new regulations effective sooner rather than later, it allowed the postal service to seek any rate increases under the new law rather than the old law.
I think everyone was well aware of the shortcomings of the old law. The new law gave the postal service a broad mandate and more flexibility to better act like a business, includ¬ing its rate-setting structure. The PRC is going to ensure that new rates that the postal service proposes are in compliance with the law. Con¬gress gave the postal service greater authority, but at the same time, it presented us as a counterbalance to ensure that the law is being obeyed.
Q: What’s next for the PRC in 2008?
A: We’ll issue our comments on the postal service’s annual compliance report at the end of March. I would also anticipate that the postal service will be coming in with a notification for proposed rate changes within the first quarter. But nothing’s formal yet.
One of the things that’s on the front burner is developing addi¬tional rules regarding complaint procedures. We’re working on ad¬ditional rules for data reporting re¬quirements for the postal service.
We still have two outstanding cases under the old law regarding negotiated service agreements that are proposed for two parties. We’re working to complete those.

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PRC seeks comment on USPS annual compliance report

Posted by | Jan 3, 2008 | |

The US Postal Service filed its annual compliance report for the fiscal year 2007 with the Postal Regulatory Commission.

The PRC is seeking feedback on the report in order to determine if it complies with Title 39 of the United States Code. The report includes detailed costs, revenues and volumes for all classes and types of mail. It also provides service measurement and customer satisfaction data. Comments are due by January 30, while reply comments are due on February 13.

For interested parties, the PRC will be holding two informal technical conferences on January 11 and January 23 at its hearing room in Washington. USPS analysts will be on hand to answer questions about the report, as well as concerns about the periodicals cost model.

This is the first compliance report that the USPS has filed since the passage of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 by Congress. However, because fiscal year 2007 was a transition period, postal rates and fees during this year were governed by provisions of the former Postal Reorganization Act, rather than the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act.

In the report, the USPS noted that it plans to file its comprehensive statement for fiscal year 2007 with the PRC in early or mid-January.

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USPS Rates Hikes Will Follow Reform Bill

Posted by | Nov 15, 2007 | |

It’s official that postal rate increases will follow the Postal Reform bill passed 11 months ago. The U.S. Postal Service’s Board of Governors announced that future price increases will be tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), or rate of inflation, for mailing services that include First Class, Standard Mail, and periodicals.

The BOG said future prices would be adjusted using new regulations issued by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on Oct. 29. The board’s decision is consistent with the Postal Reform and Accountability Act, which calls for a rate-increase cap that ties future postage increases at or below the rate of inflation. It also has strict criteria regarding conditions for emergency rate increases.

Technically, the BOG could have filed one final rate case under the old regulations in place since 1971, but voted to proceed with the new pricing regulations. “We thank the Postal Regulatory Commission for completing the new rules eight months ahead of the statutory deadline,” Postmaster General John E. Potter said in a release. “This delivers one of the main goals of the new law for business mailers–a predictable price schedule.”

With the new pricing regulations, the Postal Service has more flexibility for shipping services, including bulk parcels and expedited package services such as Priority Mail and Express Mail. “We intend to use this new flexibility to grow our competitive business offering volume discounts and contract pricing,” Potter said. “There are still many details to be worked out, but we look forward to partnering with the PRC and our customers to maximize the advantages of the new pricing rules.”

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U.S. Postal Service Governors issue decisions on two pricing recommendations

Posted by | Jun 20, 2007 | |

The U.S. Postal Service Governors decided that the current Standard Mail Flat prices will remain in effect and approved a pricing structure for Premium Stamped Stationery and Cards.

The Governors decided not to implement a temporary change to Standard Mail Regular and Nonprofit Flat prices recommended in the latest Postal Regulatory Commission’s (PRC) decision on reconsideration. The Governors asked the Commission to reconsider some of the prices originally recommended on February 26, 2007, and implemented on May 14, 2007.

The Governors also approved a PRC recommendation on the price structure for Premium Stamped Stationery and Premium Stamped Cards. The stationery (sold in pads consisting of 12 sheets of quality stock paper and imprinted with postage) can be priced between three and four times the First-Class Mail Letters first-ounce single-piece rate – currently 41 cents – times the number of sheets. The total price for the cards (sold in packets 10 to 20 and imprinted with postage and matching designs) can be priced between two and three times the First-Class Mail Cards Regular single-piece rate – currently 26 cents – times the number of cards.

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