[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 33 (Friday, February 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7938-7939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3595]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2009-23; Order No. 179]


Competitive Products Price Changes

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the Postal Service's filing of a 
notice of price changes for certain competitive (shipping) products and 
invites public comment. In general, the price changes under 
consideration are for products that were not included in a more 
comprehensive set of changes implemented in January 2009. The reason 
for their exclusion is that the associated price changes are 
calculated, for the most part, with reference to certain market 
dominant products, and the timetable for implementation of pricing for 
these products is May of each year. Thus, deferral allows this 
relationship to be maintained. Changes for the competitive products 
identified in the Postal Service's notice are scheduled to occur on May 
11, 2009, which coincides with anticipated changes for market dominant 
products.

DATES: Comments are due February 24, 2009.

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

[[Page 7939]]


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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 10, 2009, the Postal Service 
filed a 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 May 11, 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. 09-01, February 10, 2009 (Filing). The 
Filing is available on the Commission's Web site, http://www.prc.gov, under Daily Listings for February 10, 2009. 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 3 of Attachment A to the Governors' Decision was filed 
publicly in redacted form. The unredacted version of page 3 was 
filed under seal in the nonpublic annex.
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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.
    Parcel Select. Overall, Parcel Select product prices increase by 
approximately 0.5 of 1 percent. There are three categories within 
Parcel Select not included in the January 2009 competitive products' 
price increase for shipping services: Origin Bulk Mail Center (BMC) 
Presort, and Barcoded Inter-BMC and Intra-BMC which have pricing 
categories based on market dominant Single-Piece Parcel Post prices. 
The price changes in these categories will be concurrent with the 
market dominant price changes also effective on May 11, 2009. The price 
charts within the two presorted categories have minor changes to 
demonstrate the discount for barcoding. The nonpresort categories 
Barcoded Inter-BMC and Intra-BMC are now one category Barcoded 
Nonpresort.
    Premium Forwarding Service. Premium Forwarding Service prices will 
increase by 20.2 percent overall. The Premium Forwarding Service 
enrollment price will increase from $10.00 to $15.00, and the weekly 
reshipment price will increase from $11.95 to $13.95.
    International Priority Airmail (IPA) and International Surface Air 
Lift (ISAL). Noncontractual International Priority Mail will have a 
price increase of 20.8 percent and noncontractual International Surface 
Air Lift will increase by 2.4 percent. The noncontractual pricing is 
being changed to align it with First-Class Mail International letter 
prices that will change in May 2009. Structural changes are also being 
made, including adding new country-specific price groups; and pricing 
will be distinguished by presort level (Direct Country, Mixed Country, 
and Worldwide Non-presort). Additionally, Worldwide Non-presort, 
previously applicable only to IPA, will also be applicable to ISAL. 
Also, mixed country sacks will only be applicable to dropshipped items, 
and the minimum volume per mailing for IPA is raised to 50 pounds. The 
noncontractual price increases will result in increases in the rates 
charged to customers that have executed customized agreements with the 
Postal Service.
    International Ancillary Services. Prices for International 
Ancillary Services will increase on average by 6.1 percent. Prices for 
International Certificate of Mailing increase 6.7 percent, for 
International Registered Mail 6.5 percent, for International Restricted 
Delivery 4.7 percent, and for International Return Receipt 4.5 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 effect 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 
February 24, 2009.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Kenneth E. Richardson 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. CP2009-23 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 3020 subpart 
B.
    2. Comments on the Filing are due no later than February 24, 2009.
    3. The Commission appoints Kenneth E. Richardson 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. E9-3595 Filed 2-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P