[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 202 (Thursday, October 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64148-64150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25655]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2013-3; Order No. 1500]


Postal Rate and Classification Changes

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document provides the public with notice that the Postal 
Service has filed notice of its intention of planned rate and 
classification changes for competitive postal products. The changes 
have an anticipated effective date of January 27, 2013. The Postal 
Service's filing triggers a review process, which includes an 
opportunity for the public to comment. This document addresses the 
comment process and other matters that pertain to the planned changes.

DATES: Comments are due: October 26, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing 
Online system at http:www.prc.gov. Commenters who cannot submit their 
views electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT portion of the preamble for advice on 
alternatives to electronic filing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel, 
at 202-789-6824.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: October 11, 2012, the Postal Service filed 
notice with the Commission concerning changes in rates of general 
applicability for competitive products.\1\ The Notice also includes 
related classification changes. The Postal Service represents that, as 
required by the Commission's rules, 39 CFR 3015.2(b), the Notice 
includes an explanation and justification for the changes, the 
effective date, and a schedule of the changed rates. The changes are

[[Page 64149]]

scheduled to become effective January 27, 2013.
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    \1\ Notice of the United States Postal Service of Changes in 
Rates of General Applicability for Competitive Products Established 
in Governors' Decision No. 12-2, October 11, 2012 (Notice). The 
Notice is available on the Commission's Web site, www.prc.gov. 
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 Notice is Governors' Decision No. 12-2, which 
evaluates the new prices and classification changes in accordance with 
39 U.S.C. 3632-33 and 39 CFR 3015.2. The Governors' Decision provides 
an analysis of the competitive products' price and classification 
changes intended to demonstrate that the changes comply with 39 U.S.C. 
3633(a) and 39 CFR part 3015.
    The attachment to the Governors' Decision sets forth the price 
changes and includes draft Mail Classification Schedule language for 
competitive products of general applicability. Selected highlights of 
the price and classification changes follow.
    Express Mail. Overall, Express Mail prices increase by 5.8 percent. 
Retail prices increase, on average, by 6.5 percent. The existing 
structure of the pricing categories for zoned Retail, Commercial Base, 
and Commercial Plus price categories does not change. Prices in the 
Commercial Base category, which offers lower prices to customers who 
use online or other authorized postage payment methods, increase by 2.0 
percent. Prices in the Commercial Plus category, which offers even 
lower prices to large-volume customers, receive a 1.0 percent increase. 
Prices for Retail Flat Rate Envelopes and Legal Flat Rate Envelopes 
increase by 5.3 percent. The recently-introduced Padded Flat Rate 
Envelope increases to $19.95.
    Priority Mail. Price increases for Priority Mail vary by rate cell 
and price tier. Priority Mail prices increase by 6.3 percent overall, 
with average retail prices increasing 9.0 percent. The Postal Service 
notes that approximately 3.0 percent of this 9.0 percent increase is 
due to the addition of free tracking. Priority Mail Flat Rate Box 
prices change to the following: Small ($5.80), Medium ($12.35), Large 
($16.85), and Large APO/FPO/DPO ($14.85).
    The existing structure of Retail, Commercial Base, and Commercial 
Plus price categories does not change. Commercial Base category prices 
increase by 3.7 percent. The Commercial Plus category prices receive a 
3.8 percent increase. The Commercial Plus price category continues to 
offer Critical Mail letters and flats, a half-pound price, an 
assortment of Flat Rate packaging, and Commercial Plus Cubic pricing.
    As a new offering, customers sending Critical Mail letters and 
flats have the option of receiving a signature upon delivery. The new 
letter option is priced at $4.60 while the flat option is priced at 
$5.35.
    Parcel Select. Parcel Select Service prices increase, on average, 
by 9.0 percent. For destination entry parcels, the average price 
increases 8.0 percent for dropshipping at a destination delivery unit, 
4.9 percent for parcels entered at a destination sectional center 
facility, and 4.8 percent for parcels entered at a destination Network 
Distribution Center (NDC).
    For nondestination-entered parcels, the average price increase is 
5.7 percent for origin NDC presort, 4.3 percent for NDC presort, and 
4.2 percent for nonpresort. Lightweight Parcel Select (formerly 
Standard Mail commercial parcels) prices increase by 9.8 percent. The 
Regional Ground category is eliminated.
    Parcel Return. Parcel Return Service prices increase, on average, 
by 4.8 percent. The price for returned parcels retrieved at a NDC 
increases by 1.0 percent, and the price for parcels picked up at a 
return delivery unit increases by 8.5 percent. Additionally, the Postal 
Service introduces a full network return solution for high-volume 
mailers of at least 50,000 pieces annually.
    First-Class Package Service. First-Class Package Service prices 
increase, overall, by 3.0 percent, with no structural changes. First-
Class Package Service was transferred to the competitive product list 
on April 6, 2011.
    Parcel Post/Standard Post. On July 20, 2012, the Commission 
conditionally approved a Postal Service request to transfer Parcel Post 
from the market dominant product list to the competitive product list. 
As part of the Commission's conditional approval, the Postal Service 
must increase the prices for Parcel Post to achieve at least 100 
percent cost coverage. To satisfy this condition, the Postal Service 
proposes to increase the prices for Parcel Post by 21 percent to 
achieve 100 percent cost coverage in this docket. It also seeks to 
rename the transferred Parcel Post product as Standard Post.
    Domestic Extra Services. Premium Forwarding Service prices increase 
by 10.5 percent. The weekly reshipment fee increases to $17.00. On 
average, Address Enhancement Service prices increase between 3.7 and 
17.7 percent. Competitive Post Office Box prices increase by 2.6 
percent. The Pick-up On Demand fee increases to $20.00. As a new 
offering, customers ordering flat rate packaging supplies online can 
pay a fee to get these supplies delivered faster. This new service is 
priced at $2.50 and a price range will be established by the Postal 
Service.
    Global Express Guaranteed and Express Mail International. Global 
Express Guaranteed (GXG) service prices increase, on average, by 9.6 
percent. Express Mail International (EMI) service prices increase, on 
average, by 13.2 percent.
    For both GXG and EMI, most of the existing price structure remains 
the same. However, the maximum weight of the EMI Flat Rate Envelope 
will decrease from 20 pounds to 4 pounds. Additionally, the Postal 
Service may offer a promotional discount or rebate on certain GXG and 
EMI items.
    Priority Mail International. Overall, Priority Mail International 
(PMI) prices increase by 15.1 percent. The existing price structure of 
PMI Flat Rate, Retail, Commercial Base, and Commercial Plus price 
categories is maintained. Classification changes include the 
availability of Electronic USPS Delivery Confirmation International, 
which is optionally provided on certain Priority Mail International 
Flat Rate Envelope and Small Flat Rate Box offerings to select 
destinations at no change. Electronic USPS Delivery Confirmation 
International offers scan events for customers using certain software 
or online tools. Additionally, the Postal Service may offer a 
promotional discount or rebate on certain PMI items.
    International Priority Airmail. International Priority Airmail has 
a price increase of 1.9 percent.
    International Surface Air Lift. International Surface Air Lift has 
a price increase of 4.4 percent.
    Airmail M-Bags. The published prices for Airmail M-Bags increase by 
7.3 percent.
    First-Class Package International Service. On September 10, 2012, 
the Commission approved a Postal Service request to transfer First-
Class Mail International Packages and Rolls from the market dominant 
product list to the competitive product list. The Postal Service 
identifies the newly-transferred product as First-Class Package 
International Service (FCPIS). Due to anticipated cost increases and 
market conditions, FCPIS will receive a 58.6 percent increase. As part 
of FCPIS, the Postal Service will offer (1) Electronic USPS Delivery 
Confirmation International for certain FCPIS mailpieces meeting certain 
physical characteristics sent to select destinations; and (2) 
Commercial Base and Commercial Plus discounts. Additionally, the Postal 
Service may offer a promotional discount or rebate on certain Outbound 
Single-Piece FCPIS items.
    International Ancillary Services. Several international ancillary 
services and paper money orders receive price increases. Certificates 
of Mailing prices

[[Page 64150]]

increase by 4.3 percent. Registered Mail prices increase by 10.2 
percent. International Return Receipt also receives price increases, 
and International Postal Money Order prices increase by 1.1 percent. 
The amount of merchandise insurance coverage available for no fee 
increases from $100 to $200. Because the Postal Service is eliminating 
the $0.85 fee for the $100.01-$200 merchandise insurance coverage tier, 
the overall price increase for international ancillary services is zero 
percent.
    Details of these changes may be found in the attachment to 
Governors' Decision No. 12-2 which is included as part of the Notice.
    The Notice also includes three additional attachments:
     A redacted table showing FY 2013 projected volumes, 
revenues, attributable costs, contribution, and cost coverage for each 
product, assuming implementation of the new prices on January 27, 2013.
     A redacted table showing FY 2013 projected volumes, 
revenues, attributable costs, contribution, and cost coverage for each 
product, assuming a hypothetical implementation of the new prices on 
October 1, 2012.
     An application for non-public treatment of the 
attributable costs, contribution, and cost coverage data in the 
unredacted version of the annex to Governors' Decision No. 12-2, as 
well as the supporting materials for the data.
    The table referenced above shows that the share of institutional 
cost generated by competitive products, assuming implementation of new 
prices on January 27, 2013, is expected to be 10.4 percent.
    Notice. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2013-3 to consider 
the Postal Service's Notice. Interested persons may express views and 
offer comments on whether the planned changes are consistent with 39 
U.S.C. 3632, 3633, 3642, 39 CFR part 3015, and 39 CFR 3020 subparts B 
and E. Comments are due no later than October 26, 2012.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Emmett Rand Costich is appointed to 
serve as Public Representative to represent the interests of the 
general public in this docket.
    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2013-3 to provide 
interested persons an opportunity to express views and offer comments 
on whether the planned changes are consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3632, 
3633, 3642, 39 CFR part 3015, and 39 CFR 3020 subparts B and E.
    2. Comments on the Notice are due no later than October 26, 2012.
    3. The Commission appoints Emmett Rand Costich to serve 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.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-25655 Filed 10-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P