[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 28225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13146]
[[Page 28225]]
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POSTAL RATE COMMISSION
[Docket No. MC98-1; Order No. 1241]
Mail Classification Proceeding
AGENCY: Postal Rate Commission.
ACTION: Order terminating experimental docket.
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SUMMARY: The Commission, at the Postal Service's request, terminates an
experimental docket established to consider a proposed ``Mailing
Online'' service. Termination will allow the Service to consider
revisions to the proposal, given adoption of a consolidation policy
regarding its Internet presence. Termination is without prejudice to a
new filing.
DATES: Termination was effective May 12, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Send communications regarding this notice and order to the
attention of Margaret P. Crenshaw, Secretary of the Commmission, 1333 H
Street NW., Washington, DC, 20268-0001.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel,
1333 H Street, NW., Washington, DC, 20268-0001, 202-789-6820.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 5, 1999, the US Postal Service filed
a pleading announcing the withdrawal of its request in this proceeding
and moving that the Commission close this docket. Notice of US Postal
Service Withdrawal of Request for a Recommended Decision and Motion to
Close Docket (Postal Service Motion), May 5, 1999. In its pleading, the
Postal Service states that it intends to consolidate its Internet
presence within one website, USPS.com, rather than using the
``PostOffice Online'' website as a platform for certain Internet
services such as Mailing Online, as was originally proposed by the
Service in this docket. Id. at 1-2. According to the Service, the
consolidation will enable it to avoid unnecessary redundancies and
costs, and to manage efficiently the issue of year 2000 compatibility.
Id. at 1. The consolidation further is touted as a sound business
decision in accordance with the practice of other firms engaged in
Internet transactions. Ibid.
The Postal Service states that it hopes to file a new, reformulated
and supplemented request for its Mailing Online service at some
unspecified point in the future. Id. at 2. As Mailing Online's platform
would be the consolidated USPS.com website, rather than the currently
proposed PostOffice Online, an updated explanation of the system's
operation and revisions of certain estimated information systems costs
would be necessary. Ibid. In light of these modifications, the Service
has concluded that the least complicated course of action is to
withdraw its request. (In its motion to close the docket, the Postal
Service states that it would seek to incorporate into the record of the
new docket substantial, relevant parts of the record in the instant
docket in order to allow for an expedited resolution of the new
request. Postal Service Motion at 2.)
No participant has opposed the Postal Service's motion to terminate
this docket. In light of the nature of this docket--a proposal for an
experimental service by the Postal Service--the Commission does not
believe that terminating proceedings at this time will result in
prejudice to the due process rights of any participant. Accordingly,
the Commission shall grant the Postal Service's motion to terminate
this proceeding. (For information regarding the Service's initial
filing, see Commission notice and order no. 1216, published at 63 FR
39600 (July 23, 1998)).
It is ordered:
1. The motion of the U.S. Postal Service to close docket no. MC98-1
is granted.
2. The Secretary shall cause this notice and order to be published
in the Federal Register.
Authority: 39 U.S.C. 3623.
Dated: May 20, 1999.
Cyril J. Pittack,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-13146 Filed 5-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P