[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