[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58592-58593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23343]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2012-60; Order No. 1471]


Modified Norway Post Agreement

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service 
request to include a modified Norway Post Agreement within an existing 
competitive product. The modification includes an 18-month extension of 
the original agreement's term. This notice addresses procedural aspects 
of the filing.

DATES: Comments are due: September 24, 2012.

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 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 
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: 

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Contents of Filing
III. Commission Action
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On September 13, 2012, the Postal Service filed a Notice, pursuant 
to 39 CFR 3015.5, stating that it has entered into a modification of an 
existing bilateral agreement for inbound competitive services with 
Posten Norge AS (Modified Norway Post Agreement).\1\ The modification 
extends the original Norway Post Agreement by 18 months (from October 
1, 2012 to March 31, 2014). Notice at 1.
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    \1\ Notice of United States Postal Service of Filing Additional 
Functionally Equivalent Agreement, September 13, 2012 (Notice). The 
existing Norway Post Agreement was the subject of Docket No. CP2011-
69.
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    The Postal Service seeks to have the Modified Norway Post Agreement 
included within the Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreement with 
Foreign Postal Operators 1 (MC2012-34) on the Competitive Products 
List. Id. at 1-2.

II. Contents of Filing

    The Postal Service reviews the regulatory history of the 
establishment of the Inbound Competitive Multi-

[[Page 58593]]

Service Agreements with Foreign Operators 1 product and of the original 
Norway Post Agreement. Id. It also describes the Modified Norway Post 
Agreement, addresses its functional equivalency with the baseline 
agreement (filed in Docket No. CP2010-95), and identifies differences 
between the agreements. Id. at 3-4. The differences include the length 
of the agreements, the scope, and controlling law and dispute 
resolution methods. Specifically, the term of the Modified Norway Post 
Agreement is 18 months versus 2 years (and automatic renewal) for the 
baseline agreement. Id. at 4. The Modified Norway Post Agreement 
includes only inbound Air Parcel items, whereas the baseline agreement 
includes inbound air parcels plus inbound surface parcels and Express 
Mail Service (EMS). Id. In addition, in the Modified Norway Agreement 
the controlling law and dispute resolution methods are based on German 
law and arbitration, whereas U.S. federal law and several dispute 
resolution options govern the baseline agreement. Id. The Postal 
Service asserts that these differences do not detract from a finding of 
functional equivalency. Id.
    The Notice includes four attachments. Attachment 1 is an 
application for non-public treatment of unredacted material. Attachment 
2 is a redacted copy of the Governors' Decision No. 10-3.\2\ Attachment 
3A is a copy of the Modified Norway Post Agreement; Attachment 3B is a 
redacted copy of the original (Docket No. CP2011-69) Norway Post 
Agreement. Attachment 4 is the certified statement required by 39 CFR 
3015.5(c)(2).
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    \2\ The referenced Governors' Decision establishes prices and 
classifications for Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreements 
with Foreign Postal Operators, presents MCS language, and provides 
price formulas.
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III. Commission Action

    Notice of establishment of docket. The Commission establishes 
Docket No. CP2012-60 for consideration of matters raised by the Notice. 
The Commission appoints James F. Callow to serve as Public 
Representative in this docket.
    Interested persons may submit comments on whether the Postal 
Service's filings in the captioned docket are consistent with the 
policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633 or 39 CFR part 3015. Comments are due 
no later than September 24, 2012. The public portions of this filing 
can be accessed via the Commission's Web site (http://www.prc.gov).

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2012-60 for 
consideration of the matters raised in this docket.
    2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, James F. Callow is appointed to serve 
as an 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 September 24, 2012.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Ruth Ann Abrams,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-23343 Filed 9-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P