[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69711-69713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27767]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2014-5; Order No. 1876]


Change in Postal Rates

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recently Postal Service filing 
concerning the Postal Service's intention to change rates of general 
applicability for competitive products. This notice informs the public 
of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative 
steps.

DATES: Comments are due: November 29, 2013.

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: On November 13, 2013, 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. Id. at 1. The 
changes are scheduled to become effective January 26, 2014. Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Notice of the United States Postal Service of Changes in 
Rates of General Applicability for Competitive Products Established 
in Governors' Decision No. 13-2, November 13, 2013 (Notice). 
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Attached to the Notice is Governors' Decision No. 13-02, which 
evaluates the new prices and classification changes in accordance with 
39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633,

[[Page 69712]]

and 39 CFR 3015.2.\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. Id. at 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Decision of the Governors of the United States Postal 
Service on Changes in Rates and Classes of General Applicability for 
Competitive Products (Governors' Decision No. 13-02), October 22, 
2013 (Governors' Decision No. 13-02).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.
    Priority Mail Express. Overall, Priority Mail Express prices 
increase by an average of 3.0 percent. A new Zone 9 is added for 
mailings to and from Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau. In 
addition, a 10:30 a.m. delivery time option can be added for $5.00.
    Retail prices increase, on average, by 3.1 percent. Prices for 
Retail Flat Rate Envelopes, Padded Flat Rate Envelopes, and Legal Flat 
Rate Envelopes increase by 4 cents to $19.99. The Flat Rate Box prices 
increase from $39.95 to $44.95.
    Prices in the Commercial Base category, which offers lower prices 
to customers who use online or other authorized postage payment 
methods, increase by 2.9 percent. Prices in the Commercial Plus 
category, which offers even lower prices to large-volume customers, 
receive a 0.6 percent increase. A fee of 20 cents per piece will be 
assessed on commercial parcels that lack an Intelligent Mail Package 
Barcode.
    Priority Mail. The existing structure of Retail, Commercial Base, 
and Commercial Plus price categories does not change. A new Zone 9 is 
added for mailings to and from Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau.
    Priority Mail Retail Flat Rate Box prices change to $17.45 for the 
Large Flat Rate Box and $15.45 for the Large APO/FPO/DPO Flat Rate Box. 
Prices for the Small and Medium Flat Rate Boxes are maintained at $5.80 
and $12.35, respectively. The regular Flat Rate Envelope price is 
$5.60, and the Legal Size and Padded Flat Rate Envelope prices are 
$5.75 and $5.95, respectively.
    For Commercial Plus, the minimum annual volume threshold for cubic 
pricing and other Commercial Plus offerings are decreased to 50,000 
packages. A fee of 20 cents per piece will be assessed on commercial 
parcels that lack an Intelligent Mail Package Barcode.
    Parcel Select. Parcel Select Service prices increase, on average, 
by 5.9 percent. For destination entry parcels, the average price 
increases 8.0 percent for dropshipping at a destination delivery unit, 
5.6 percent for parcels entered at a destination Sectional Center 
Facility (SCF), and 5.1 percent for parcels entered at a destination 
Network Distribution Center (NDC).
    For non-destination entered parcels, the average price increase is 
5.9 percent. Prices for Lightweight Parcel Select increase by 10.1 
percent.
    Parcel Return Service. Parcel Return Service prices increase, on 
average, by 3.0 percent. The price for returned parcels retrieved from 
a return NDC or a return SCF have a zero percent overall increase, 
while prices for parcels retrieved from a return delivery unit increase 
by 5.7 percent.
    First-Class Package Service. Commercial First-Class Package Service 
prices increase, overall, by 5.0 percent. A fee of 20 cents per piece 
will be assessed on commercial parcels that lack an Intelligent Mail 
Package Barcode.
    Standard Post. Standard Post prices increase by an average of 5.2 
percent. Prices in Zones 1-4 are aligned with the Retail Priority Mail 
prices for those zones. Thus, customers shipping in those price cells 
will receive Priority Mail service, and will default to Standard Post 
service only if the item contains hazardous material or is otherwise 
not permitted to travel by air transportation.
    Domestic Extra Services. Premium Forwarding Service prices increase 
slightly, and a new pricing option is added. The retail counter 
enrollment fee increases to $17.00, and a new online enrollment option 
is available for $16.00. Prices for Adult Signature service increase to 
$5.20 for the basic service and $5.45 for the person-specific service. 
Address Enhancement Service prices increase between 3.6 and 7.7 
percent. Competitive Post Office Box prices increase, on average, 3.5 
percent. Package Intercept Service increases by an average of 5.0 
percent.
    Global Express Guaranteed and Priority Mail Express International. 
Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) service prices increase, on average, by 
3.0 percent. Priority Mail Express International (PMEI) service prices 
increase, on average, by 1.3 percent.
    For both GXG and PMEI, most of the existing price structure remains 
the same. Changes include a revision concerning payment methods for 
which GXG Commercial Base and PMEI Commercial Base pricing is 
available; the establishment of PMEI Flat Rate Commercial Base and PMEI 
Flat Rate Commercial Plus rates; and an increase to 70 pounds for the 
maximum weight for PMEI for Country Price Group 2.
    Priority Mail International. Overall, Priority Mail International 
(PMI) prices increase by an average of 1.1 percent. The existing price 
structure of PMI Flat Rate, Retail, Commercial Base, and Commercial 
Plus price categories do not change, except for the establishment of 
PMI Flat Rate Commercial Base and PMI Flat Rate Commercial Plus rates, 
with additional changes concerning the availability of Electronic USPS 
Delivery Confirmation International. Additional classification changes 
include a revision concerning payment methods for which PMI Commercial 
Base is available; an increase to 70 pounds for the maximum weight for 
PMI for Rate Group 2, as well as revisions concerning PMI contents 
restrictions and size limitations for PMI items.
    International Priority Airmail/International Surface Air Lift. 
International Priority Airmail (IPA) prices decrease by an average of 
2.5 percent. International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) prices decrease by 
an average of 2.9 percent. Classification changes include revising the 
structure of IPA and ISAL price categories so that there are 19 rate 
groups and rates are established by mail shape; a reduction in the 
minimum weight of Direct Country containers; a reduction in the maximum 
weight for IPA and ISAL large envelopes/flats; and an increase in the 
maximum weight for IPA and ISAL packages.
    Airmail M-Bags. The published prices for Airmail M-Bags increase by 
an average of 2.9 percent.
    First-Class Package International Service. The overall increase for 
First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS) Retail prices is 0.8 
percent; FCPIS Commercial Base and FCPIS Commercial Plus prices remain 
unchanged. The existing structure of FCPIS Retail, Commercial Base, and 
Commercial Plus price categories are maintained, except for a revision 
concerning payment methods for which PMI Commercial Base is available. 
In addition, Pickup on Demand is an added option for FCPIS.
    International Ancillary Services. Certificates of Mailing prices 
increase by an average of 9.7 percent. Registered Mail prices increase 
by an average of 5.4 percent. International Return Receipt prices 
increase by an average of 7.1 percent. The Customs Clearance and 
Delivery Fee increases by an average of 9.1 percent. The maximum amount 
for Vendor Assisted Electronic Money Transfer decreases to $1500.00.

[[Page 69713]]

    Details of these changes may be found in the attachment to 
Governors' Decision No. 13-02 which is included as part of the Notice 
and contains proposed changes to the Mail Classification Schedule in 
legislative format.
    The Notice also includes three additional attachments:
     A redacted table showing FY 2014 projected volumes, 
revenues, attributable costs, contribution, and cost coverage for each 
product, assuming implementation of the new prices on January 26, 2014.
     A redacted table showing FY 2014 projected volumes, 
revenues, attributable costs, contribution, and cost coverage for each 
product, assuming a hypothetical implementation of the new prices on 
October 1, 2013.
     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. 13-02, 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 26, 2014, is expected to be 15.9 percent.
    Notice. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2014-5 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 November 29, 2013.
    For specific details of the planned price and classification 
changes, interested persons are encouraged to review the Notice, which 
is available on the Commission's Web site, www.prc.gov.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Tracy N. Ferguson 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. CP2014-5 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 part 3020 subparts B and E.
    2. Comments on the Notice are due no later than November 29, 2013.
    3. The Commission appoints Tracy N. Ferguson 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.
Ruth Ann Abrams,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-27767 Filed 11-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P