Excerpts from USPS filing to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) requesting an advisory opinion regarding service standards. USPS received 4,200 comments from its Federal Register notice in September 2011.
Based on an analysis of fiscal year 2010 costs, the Postal Service has determined that a combination of service changes centered on eliminating overnight service for significant portions of First-Class Mail and Periodicals could generate a net improvement to postal finances of approximately $2.1 billion on an annual basis. While this would not cure all of the Postal Service’s long-term financial ills, this constitutes an opportunity for such a substantial improvement in financial stability that the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service has directed postal management to pursue expeditious implementation of the service and operational changes to hasten the time when full savings from the initiative can be realized.
As implemented by 39 C.F.R. § 3001.72, section 3661(b) requires the Postal Service to file its advisory opinion request not less than 90 days before the scheduled implementation of the planned service changes. Assuming no disabling legislative enactment, the Postal Service would be authorized to implement the service changes within the scope of this Request no earlier than March 5, 2012.15 In any event, the Postal Service will not implement any service standard changes within the scope of its Request before the completion of the aforementioned rulemaking affecting 39 C.F.R. Part 121. Assuming a 60-day comment period and an additional 30 days to consider and address all comments before determining whether to publish notice of a final rule change in the Federal Register, the rulemaking can not realistically conclude until some time in the first half of March 2012. No service changes associated with this Request will be implemented earlier than some time in the first half of April 2012. Accordingly, the filing of this request today satisfies the section 3661(b) requirement that it be filed “a reasonable time prior to the effective date” of the proposed changes. USPS Request To PRC To Change Service Standards| All files relating to USPS’ Request for Advisory Opinion can be found at the PRC web site Daily Listing for December 5, 2011.
USPS FAQs On PRC FILING TO CHANGE SERVICE STANDARDS
On Monday, Dec. 5, the Postal Service will transmit to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) a request for an advisory opinion regarding service standards associated with a significant rationalization of its mail processing network. Shortly thereafter, the Postal Service will publish a notice in the Federal Register soliciting public comment on the proposed service standard changes.
On Sep. 15, 2011, the Postal Service announced it would begin studying 252 mail processing facilities for possible closure. At that time, the Postal Service announced that it was considering changing service standards and an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was being filed with the Federal Register that day. [ PR link: USPS Study List]
What is a service standard?
A service standard is a stated goal for service achievement for a mail class. It represents the number of days it takes to deliver mail between specific 3-digit ZIP Codes within the United States and its territories. Service standards are based on, among other things, origin and destination locations and the particular mail product within the U.S. postal system.
What are the service standards today within the 48 contiguous states?
- Priority Mail: 1−3 days
- First-Class Mail: 1−3 days
- Periodicals: 1−9 days
- Package Services: 1−8 days
- Standard Mail: 2−10 days
What is the proposed change to service standards within the 48 contiguous states?
- Priority Mail: 1−3 days
- First-Class Mail: 2−3 days*
- Periodicals: 2−9 days*
- Package Services: 1−8 days
- Standard Mail: 2−10 days
* Overnight service to the local service area could be possible based on mail entry times Non-contiguous U.S. locations will also be realigned to align the service standards with the capability of the networks.
Would Express Mail service change?
Express Mail will continue to provide overnight service.
Would Priority Mail service change?
Priority Mail will continue to be a 1-3 day product.
What does this change mean to the average customer?
Customers will likely no longer receive mail the day after it is mailed. In all likelihood, this change is expected to have minimal impact on the average postal customer.
What is a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and why was it used?
A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is published in the Federal Register and is a formal effort to provide to the public with notice of proposed changes to the service standard day ranges and business rules that will be utilized for determining delivery expectations for market dominant products, as well as to solicit input from the public prior to a final rule publication. The Notice is used to gather information which can be factored into the final rule for changes in service standards.
What is the role of the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) in this matter?
If a change in the nature of service is at least substantially nationwide in scope, the Postal Service must request a nonbinding advisory opinion from the PRC a reasonable amount of time before implementing the change.
What is the timeline for moving forward with this service standard change?
The PRC’s rules require the Postal Service to wait at least 90 days after filing its advisory opinion request before implementing the service change. The Postal Service is anticipating moving forward with this initiative in early 2012.
source: USPS
The bastards can’t afford to pay it’s workers to get our mail to us in a timely manner, but they can afford to have 10 lawyers write a damn letter full of BS to support their scheme to destroy the USPS as we know it! How pathetic……