[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 225 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70390-70391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27655]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2009-8; Order No. 132]


Competitive Products Price Changes

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recently filed Postal Service 
notice of changes to rates of general applicability for competitive 
products and related classification changes. The price changes are 
scheduled to become effective January 18, 2009.

DATES: Comments are due December 1, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing 
Online system at http://www.prc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel, 
202-789-6820 and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 13, 2008, the Postal Service 
filed notice with the Commission concerning changes in rates of general 
applicability for competitive products.\1\ The Filing also includes 
related mail classification changes. As required by the Commission's 
rules, 39 CFR 3015.2(b), the Filing includes an explanation and 
justification for the changes, the effective date, and a schedule of 
the changed rates. The price changes are scheduled to become effective 
January 18, 2009.
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    \1\ See Notice of the United States Postal Service of Changes in 
Rates of General Applicability for Competitive Products Established 
in Governors' Decision No. 08-19, November 13, 2008 (Filing). The 
Filing is available on the Commission's Web site, http://www.prc.gov, under Daily Listings for November 13, 2008. Pursuant to 
39 U.S.C. 3632(b)(2), the Postal Service is obligated to publish the 
Governors' Decision and record of proceedings in the Federal 
Register at least 30 days before the effective date of the new rates 
or classes.
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    Attached to the Filing is the Governors' Decision evaluating the 
new prices and classification changes in accordance with 39 U.S.C. 
3632-33 and 39 CFR 3015.2.
    The Governors' Decision includes two Attachments. Attachment A 
provides an analysis of the competitive products' price and 
classification changes intended to demonstrate that the changes comply 
with section 3633(a) of title 39 and the Commission's rules.\2\ 39 CFR 
3015.7(c).
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    \2\ Page 4 of Attachment A to the Governors' Decision was filed 
publisly in redacted form. The unredacted version of page 4 was 
filed under seal in the nonpublic index.
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    Attachment B to the Governors' Decision sets forth the price 
changes and related product description changes to be incorporated into 
the draft Mail Classification Schedule. Selected highlights of the 
price and classification changes follow.
    Express Mail. Overall, Express Mail prices increase by 
approximately 5.7 percent, with average retail prices increasing by 
approximately 6 percent. Changes to the price structure include 
supplanting the current Commercial Volume Incentives category with a 
Commercial Plus category that provides lower prices, rather than 
rebates, for customers meeting specified volume levels. Customers 
paying through the use of qualifying metered systems will be eligible 
for the lower prices currently available to customers paying postage 
online and through authorized payment methods.
    Priority Mail. Priority Mail prices increase by 3.9 percent 
overall, with average retail prices increasing by about 4.7 percent. 
Changes to the price structure include the creation of a Commercial 
Plus category, similar to the one for Express Mail, to provide lower 
prices for customers mailing specified volumes. A small flat-rate box 
is also added as a new Priority Mail option. Pricing incentives 
currently available to customers paying postage online or through 
authorized payment methods are extended to customers paying through the 
use of qualifying metered systems.
    Parcel Select. Parcel Select service increases, on average, by 5.9 
percent. Prices are designed to encourage dropshipping at destination 
delivery units (DDUs), and accordingly, increase more for destination 
bulk mail center (BMC) entry than for destination sectional center 
facility entry and DDU entry.
    Parcel Return. Parcel Return service increases, on average, by 5.3 
percent. Return BMC prices will increase by 7.1 percent with no 
increase for return delivery unit prices.
    Global Express Guaranteed. Global Express Guaranteed service 
increases, on average, by 11.2 percent. Price

[[Page 70391]]

increases vary by country group and weight increment. Qualified 
customers paying through information-based indicia postage meters will 
be eligible for the lower prices currently available to customers 
paying online or through an authorized PC postage vender.
    Express Mail International. Express Mail International service 
increases, on average, by 8.5 percent. Price increases vary by country 
group and weight increment. Qualified customers paying through 
information-based indicia postage meters will be eligible for the lower 
prices currently available to customers paying online or through an 
authorized PC postage vender. The country group structure is also 
expanded from 9 to 10 country groups.
    Priority Mail International. Priority Mail International prices 
increase on average by 8.5 percent. Different increases apply depending 
on the weight and country group. Qualified customers paying through 
information-based indicia postage meters will be eligible for the lower 
prices currently available to customers paying online or through an 
authorized PC postage vender. A small flat-rate box is also added as a 
new Priority Mail International option. The country group structure is 
also expanded from 9 to 10 country groups.
    M-bags. International Direct Sacks--M-bags (Airmail M-bags) 
increase by approximately 8 percent.
    Details of these changes may be found in Attachment B to the 
Filing.
    The establishment of rates of general applicability for competitive 
products and the associated mail classification changes effects a 
change in the Mail Classification Schedule. As such, pursuant to 
subpart E of part 3020 of its rules, 39 CFR 3020.90 et seq., the 
Commission provides notice of the Postal Service's Filing. Interested 
persons may express views and offer comments on whether the planned 
changes are consistent with the policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, or 
3642 and 39 CFR part 3015 and 39 CFR 3020 subpart B. Comments are due 
no later than December 1, 2008.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Emmett Rand Costich is appointed to 
serve as officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent 
the interests of the general public in the above-captioned docket.
    It is Ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2009-8 to provide 
interested persons an opportunity to express views and offer comments 
on whether the planned changes are consistent with the policies of 39 
U.S.C. 3632, 3633, or 3642 and 39 CFR part 3015 and 39 CFR part 3020 
subpart B.
    2. Comments on the Filing are due no later than December 1, 2008.
    3. The Commission appoints Emmett Rand Costich as Public 
Representative to represent the interests of the general public in this 
proceeding.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this Order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Steven W. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-27655 Filed 11-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P