[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74032-74033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29936]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. R2013-5; Order No.1569]


International Mail Contract

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing 
concerning modification of a mail contract with Singapore Post Limited. 
This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, 
and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: December 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing 
Online system at http://www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit comments 
electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section by telephone for advice on filing 
alternatives.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel, 
at 202-789-6820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

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

I. Introduction

    Background. On December 4, 2012, the Postal Service filed notice, 
pursuant to 39 CFR 3010.40 et seq., announcing that it has entered into 
a modification of an existing bilateral agreement (Modified Agreement) 
for inbound market dominant services with Singapore Post Limited 
(Singapore Post).\1\ It asks that the Commission include the Modified 
Agreement within the Inbound Market Dominant Multi-Service Agreements 
with Foreign Postal Operators 1 product.
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    \1\ Notice of the United States Postal Service of Filing 
Additional Functionally Equivalent Agreement, December 4, 2012 
(Notice).
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    Contract history and scope. The Modified Agreement revises the 
existing Singapore Post Agreement (Original Agreement), filed in Docket 
No. R2012-1, which was included within Inbound Market Dominant Multi-
Service Agreements with Foreign Postal Operators 1 by operation of 
Order No. 995. Id. at 1. The modification extends the Original 
Agreement until June 30, 2013. Id.
    Applicable rules. Subpart D of 39 CFR 3010 addresses rate 
adjustments for negotiated service agreements (Type 2 adjustments). The 
rules in this subpart specify, among other things, the scope and nature 
of the data, information, and explanations the Postal Service is to 
provide in a notice of Type 2 rate adjustment; the action the 
Commission is to take upon receipt of such Notice; and the nature of 
Commission review. See 39 CFR 3010.42 through 3010.44.

II. Notice of Filing

    Compliance with filing requirements. The Postal Service's filing 
consists of the Notice, three attachments, and a public Excel file. 
Attachment 1 to the Notice is an application for non-public treatment 
of material filed under seal with the Commission (Application).\2\ This 
material consists of the unredacted text of the Agreement and 
unredacted supporting financial documentation. Id. at 3. Attachment 2 
is a copy of the Modified Agreement. Id. at 2. Attachment 3 is a 
redacted copy of the Original Agreement from Docket No. R2012-1. Id. at 
2-3. The public Excel file is a redacted version of the supporting 
financial documentation. Id. at 3.
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    \2\ The Application was filed pursuant to 39 CFR 3007.21. See 
Id. at 7.
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    The Postal Service identifies January 18, 2013 as the effective 
date of the Modified Agreement; asserts that the requisite 45 days' 
advance notice is being provided; and identifies a Postal Service 
official as a contact for further information. Id. at 3-4.\3\ It 
identifies the parties to the Agreement as the United States Postal 
Service and Singapore Post Limited, the postal operator for Singapore. 
Id. at 4. It states that the Modified Agreement includes delivery 
confirmation scanning for Letter Post small packets, a service 
established by the China Post 2010 Agreement, the Hongkong Post 
Agreement, and China Post 2011 Agreements. Id.
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    \3\ In a related filing in Docket No. R2012-1, the Postal 
Service seeks a brief extension of the Original Agreement. See 
Docket No. R2012-1, Motion of the United States Postal Service for 
Temporary Relief, December 4, 2012.
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    The Postal Service states that information about expected financial 
improvements, costs, volumes, and revenues in financial workpapers has 
been filed with the Commission under seal. Id. at 5. Because the 
Modified Agreement involves only term extension, and therefore no 
relevant material change, the Postal Service incorporates by reference 
portions of its original notice \4\ (in Docket No. R2012-1), 
addressing, as required by 39 CFR 2010.41(d), components expected to 
enhance performance and, as required by 39 CFR 2010.41(e), reasons why 
the Modified Agreement will not result in unreasonable harm to the 
marketplace. Notice at 5.
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    \4\ Docket No. R2012-1, Notice of United States Postal Service 
of Type 2 Rate Adjustment and Notice of Filing Functionally 
Equivalent Agreement, October 14, 2011, at 4-7 (Docket No. R2012-1 
Notice).
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    Rule 3010.43--data collection plan. Rule 3010.43 requires the 
Postal Service to submit a detailed data collection plan. The Postal 
Service asks that the Commission except the Modified Agreement from the 
separate performance reporting requirement under 39 CFR 3055.3(a)(3), 
based on reasons described in the Docket No. R2012-1 Notice. Id. at 6; 
see also Docket No. R2012-1 Notice at 5-6.
    Consistency with applicable statutory criteria. The Postal Service 
notes that in the Original Agreement, the Commission held that the 
criteria set forth in 39 U.S.C. 3622(c)(10) had been

[[Page 74033]]

met. t asserts that because the Modified Agreement does not materially 
change any relevant terms of the Original Agreement, the statutory 
criteria continue to be met. Notice at 6.
    Similarly, the Postal Service asserts the Modified Agreement does 
not materially change any relevant terms of the Original Agreement and 
should therefore be deemed functionally equivalent. Id. at 7.

III. Notice of Proceeding

    The Commission, in conformance with rule 3010.44, hereby 
establishes Docket No. R2013-5 to consider issues raised by the Notice. 
The Commission invites public 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 17, 2012.\5\
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    \5\ To provide sufficient time for interested persons to comment 
in these proceedings, the Commission finds it appropriate to waive 
the 10-day comment period specified in 39 CFR 3010.44(a)(5). The 
modest extension will not prejudice either party to the agreement, 
given that 45 days' advance notice is provided.
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    The public portions of the Postal Service's filing have been posted 
on the Commission's Web site. They can be accessed at http://www.prc.gov. Information on how to obtain access to non-public material 
is available at 39 CFR 3007.40.
    The Commission appoints Allison J. Levy to serve as Public 
Representative in this docket.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. R2013-5 to consider 
matters raised by the Notice of United States Postal Service of Filing 
Additional Functionally Equivalent Agreement, filed December 4, 2012.
    2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Allison J. Levy 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 December 17, 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. 2012-29936 Filed 12-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P