[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76201-76202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31208]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. R2012-5; Order No. 1011]


International Mail Contract

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service 
request to enter into an additional bilateral agreement with Canada 
Post Corporation. This document invites public comments on the request 
and addresses several related procedural steps.

DATES: Comments are due: December 14, 2011, 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically by accessing the ``Filing 
Online'' link in the banner at the top of the Commission's Web site 
(http://www.prc.gov) or by directly accessing the Commission's Filing 
Online system at https://www.prc.gov/prc-pages/filing-online/login.aspx. Commenters who cannot submit their views electronically 
should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section as the source for case-related information for advice 
on alternatives to electronic filing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel, 
at (202) 789-6820 (case-related information) or [email protected] 
(electronic filing assistance).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction
II. Notice of Filing
III. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On November 23, 2011, the Postal Service filed a notice, pursuant 
to 39 CFR 3010.40 et seq., and Order No. 549, that it has entered into 
a bilateral agreement with Canada Post Corporation (Canada Post 2012 
Agreement or Agreement), which it seeks to include in the Inbound 
Market Dominant Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 
1 product.\1\ The Notice concerns the portion of a bilateral agreement 
with Canada Post for inbound market dominant services that the Postal 
Service contends is similar and functionally equivalent to agreements 
already included in the Inbound Market Dominant Multi-Service 
Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1 product.\2\ Notice at 1.
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    \1\ Notice of United States Postal Service of Type 2 Rate 
Adjustment, and Notice of Filing Functionally Equivalent Agreement, 
November 23, 2011 (Notice); see also Docket Nos. MC2010-35, R2010-5 
and R2010-6, Order Adding Inbound Market Dominant Multi-Service 
Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1 to the Market Dominant 
Product List and Approving Included Agreements, September 30, 2010 
(Order No. 549).
    \2\ The Postal Service states that the Agreement is marked 
``Draft'' because of continuing negotiation of specific terms and 
conditions. However, it asserts that no further substantive changes 
are expected concerning rates, operational terms or the financial 
liability provisions of the Agreement. Request at 2, n.2. The Postal 
Service states that it anticipates finalizing the terms of the fully 
executed Agreement prior to December 31, 2011. The Commission views 
the draft as acceptable for purposes of issuing notice of the 
Agreement. However, the Commission cannot base its final order in 
this proceeding on the draft Agreement. Therefore, to avoid delaying 
the final order, the Postal Service should file an executed 
Agreement as soon as possible. In that filing, the Postal Service 
shall indicate all changes between the draft agreement and the 
executed agreement.
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    In support of its Notice, the Postal Service filed two attachments 
as follows:
     Attachment 1--an application for non-public treatment of 
materials to maintain redacted portions of the agreement and supporting 
documents under seal; and
     Attachment 2--a redacted copy of the Canada Post 2012 
Agreement. The Postal Service also provided a redacted version of the 
Agreement and supporting financial documentation as a separate Excel 
file.
    In Order No. 549, the Commission approved the Inbound Market 
Dominant Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1 
product and included the Strategic Bilateral Agreement Between United 
States Postal Service and Koninklijke TNT Post BV and TNT Post 
Pakketservice Benelux BV (TNT Agreement) and the China Post Group-
United States Postal Service Letter Post Bilateral Agreement (CPG 
Agreement) in the product. In Order No. 700, the Commission approved 
the functionally equivalent HongKong Post Agreement (HongKong Post 
Agreement).\3\ In Order No. 871, the Commission approved the 
functionally equivalent China Post 2011 Agreement.\4\ In Order Nos. 995 
and 996,

[[Page 76202]]

the Commission approved the functionally equivalent Singapore Post and 
Australia Post Agreements, respectively.\5\
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    \3\ See Docket No. R2011-4, Order Approving Rate Adjustment for 
HongKong Post-United States Postal Service Letter Post Bilateral 
Agreement Negotiated Service Agreement, March 18, 2011 (Order No. 
700).
    \4\ See Docket No. R2011-7, Order Concerning an Additional 
Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal 
Operators 1 Negotiated Service Agreement, September 23, 2011 (Order 
No. 871).
    \5\ See Docket No. R2012-1, Order Approving Rate Adjustment for 
Singapore-Post United States Postal Service Letter Post Bilateral 
Agreement Negotiated Service Agreement, November 23, 2011 (Order No. 
995); see also Docket No. R2012-2, Order Concerning an Additional 
Inbound Market Dominant Multi-Service Agreement with Foreign Postal 
Operators 1 Negotiated Service Agreement, November 23, 2011 (Order 
No. 996).
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    Canada Post 2012 Agreement. The Postal Service and Canada Post, the 
postal operator for Canada, are parties to the Agreement. The Agreement 
covers, inter alia, the delivery of inbound Letter Post, in the form of 
letters, flats, small packets, parcels, bags, and International 
Registered Mail service for Letter Post. The planned inbound market 
dominant rates are scheduled to become effective January 7, 2012. 
Notice at 3. The Agreement has a term of 2 years commencing January 1, 
2012 and ending December 31, 2013, although it may be extended for a 
third year. Id. Attachment 2 at 7-8; see also pdf version at 57 (2012-
2013 CPC-USPS Contractual Bilateral Agreement, Exhibit 4).\6\ The 
Agreement however, may be terminated by either party without cause on 
no less than 90 days' written notice. Id. Attachment 2 at 8.
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    \6\ When it files an executed copy of the Agreement, the Postal 
Service should confirm the effective dates of the Agreement.
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    Requirements under part 3010. The Postal Service states that the 
projected financial performance of the Canada Post 2012 Agreement is 
provided in the Excel file included with its filing. It contends that 
improvements should enhance mail efficiency and other functions for 
Letter Post items under the Agreement. Notice at 3-4.
    The Postal Service asserts that the Agreement should not cause 
unreasonable harm in the marketplace since it is unaware of any 
significant competition in this market. Id. at 5-6.
    Data collection plan. Under 39 CFR 3010.43, the Postal Service is 
required to submit a data collection plan. The Postal Service indicates 
that it intends to report information on this Agreement through its 
Annual Compliance Report. While indicating its willingness to provide 
information on mailflows within the annual compliance review process, 
the Postal Service proposes that no special data collection plan be 
established for this Agreement. With respect to performance 
measurement, it requests that the Commission exempt the Canada Post 
2012 Agreement from separate reporting requirements under 39 CFR 
3055.3(a)(3) as determined in previous agreements approved as 
functionally equivalent agreements under the Inbound Market Dominant 
Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1 product.\7\
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    \7\ In Order No. 996, the Commission held that ``[f]uture 
agreements that fall within the parameters of the Inbound Market-
Dominant Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1 
product are excepted from the performance reporting requirements.'' 
Order No. 996 at 7.
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    The Postal Service advances reasons why the instant Agreement is 
functionally equivalent to the previously filed CPG Agreement, TNT 
Agreement, HongKong Post Agreement, and China Post 2011 Agreement.\8\ 
It contends that it contains the same attributes and methodology and 
fits within the Mail Classification Schedule language for the Inbound 
Multi-Service Agreements with the Foreign Postal Operators 1 product. 
Additionally, it states that the Canada Post 2012 Agreement includes 
similar terms and conditions, e.g., is with a foreign postal operator, 
conforms to a common description, and relates to rates for Letter Post 
tendered from the postal operator's territory. Id. at 8.
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    \8\ The Postal Service specifically references the differences 
between the instant Agreement and the TNT Agreement for comparison 
purposes. Id. at 8-11.
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    The Postal Service identifies specific differences that distinguish 
the instant Agreement from the previous agreements. It states that the 
Agreement provides greater specificity in the terms and products 
because of the parties' business experience with their previous 
bilateral agreements. The Postal Service states differences include 
specific performance-based financial incentives and adjustments to the 
financial model based on the specific negotiations between the parties. 
Id. at 9-10. The Postal Service contends that the instant Agreement is 
nonetheless functionally equivalent to existing agreements. Id. at 11.
    In its Notice, the Postal Service maintains that certain portions 
of the Agreement, prices, and related financial information should 
remain under seal. Id. at 11; id. Attachment 1.
    The Postal Service concludes that the Canada Post 2012 Agreement 
should be added as a functionally equivalent agreement under the 
Inbound Market Dominant Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal 
Operators 1 product. Id. at 12.

II. Notice of Filings

    Interested persons may submit comments on whether the Postal 
Service's filing in the captioned docket is consistent with the 
policies of 39 U.S.C. 3622 and 39 CFR part 3010.40. Comments are due no 
later than December 14, 2011. The public portions of these filings can 
be accessed via the Commission's Web site (http://www.prc.gov).
    The Commission appoints James F. Callow to serve as Public 
Representative in this docket.

III. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. R2012-5 to consider 
matters raised by the Postal Service's Notice.
    2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, James F. Callow is appointed to serve 
as officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent the 
interests of the general public in this proceeding.
    3. Comments by interested persons in this proceeding are due no 
later than December 14, 2011.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-31208 Filed 12-5-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P