[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77172-77173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30335]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CP2014-13; Order No. 1907]


New Postal Product

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing 
concerning a contract with Canada for the delivery of inbound Expedited 
Parcels USA and Express Mail Services (EMS). This notice informs the 
public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other 
administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: December 23, 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: 

Table of Contents

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

I. Introduction

    On December 13, 2013, the Postal Service filed Notice, pursuant to 
39 CFR 3015.5, that it has entered into a successor negotiated service 
agreement (Agreement) with Canada's foreign postal operator, Canada 
Post Corporation (Canada Post).\1\
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    \1\ Notice of United States Postal Service of Filing 
Functionally Equivalent Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreement 
with a Foreign Postal Operator, December 13, 2013 (Notice).
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    The Postal Service seeks to have the inbound portion of the 
Agreement, which concerns delivery of inbound Expedited Parcels USA and 
Express Mail Services (EMS) in the United States, included within the 
Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreements with Foreign Postal 
Operators 1 (MC2010-34) product on the competitive product list. Notice 
at 1, 3.

II. Contents of Filing

    The Postal Service's filing consists of the Notice, financial 
workpapers, and four attachments.\2\ Attachment 1 is an

[[Page 77173]]

application for non-public treatment of material. Attachment 2 is a 
copy of the Agreement. Attachment 3 is the certified statement required 
by 39 CFR 3015.5(c)(2). Attachment 4 is a copy of Governors' Decision 
No. 10-3.
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    \2\ The financial workpapers and Attachments 2 and 4 were filed 
in redacted and unredacted versions. Terms and conditions associated 
with International Business Return Service are not included in the 
Notice because return service to U.S. customers has not yet been 
launched. Id. at 3-4. The Postal Service states that it will file an 
appropriate amendment and corresponding notice prior to the launch 
of this product. Id. at 4.
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    The Agreement's intended effective date is January 1, 2014. Id. at 
3. The Agreement is set to expire two years after the effective date, 
subject to termination pursuant to contractual terms. Id.
    The Postal Service states that the Agreement is the successor to 
the 2012 Canada Post Agreement approved in Order No. 1088.\3\ It also 
identifies the 2012 Canada Post Agreement as the baseline agreement for 
purposes of determining functional equivalence. Notice at 2. It asserts 
that the Agreement fits within applicable Mail Classification Schedule 
language included in Governors' Decision No. 10-3. See id. at 3, 
Attachment 4. The Postal Service identifies differences between the 
Agreement and the 2012 Canada Post Agreement, such as revisions to 
existing articles and attachments, but asserts that these differences 
do not detract from a finding of functional equivalency.\4\ Notice at 
5-7. In addition, it states that both agreements incorporate the same 
cost attributes and methodology, thereby making the relevant cost and 
market characteristics the same. Id. at 6.
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    \3\ Notice at 2; Docket No. CP2012-4, Order Adding an Additional 
Bilateral Agreement to Inbound Competitive Multi-Service Agreements 
With Foreign Postal Operators 1 Product, December 30, 2011 (Order 
No. 1088).
    \4\ See, e.g., in Article 13, revisions to procedures related to 
filings in the regulatory process; in Attachment 5, inclusion of 
initiatives intended to improve quality of service; and in 
Attachment 7, inclusion of product development and collaborative 
initiatives. Notice, Attachment 2 at 4-5, 43-44, 48.
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III. Commission Action

    Notice of establishment of docket. The Commission establishes 
Docket No. CP2014-13 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 filing in the above-captioned docket is consistent with the 
policies of 39 U.S.C. 3632, 3633, and 3642 and the requirements of 39 
CFR parts 3015 and 3020. Comments are due no later than December 23, 
2013. The public portions of this filing can be accessed via the 
Commission's Web site (http://www.prc.gov). Information on obtaining 
access to sealed material appears in 39 CFR part 3007.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. CP2014-13 for 
consideration of matters raised by the Postal Service's Notice.
    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 are due no later than December 23, 2013.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Ruth Ann Abrams,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-30335 Filed 12-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P