[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73245-73246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29833]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. R2016-2; Order No. 2824]


Market Dominant Price Adjustment

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service 
notice announcing plans to implement five temporary promotions and 
associated classification changes. This notice informs the public of 
the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative 
steps.

DATES: Comments are due: December 7, 2015.

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: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 
202-789-6820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Overview
III. Initial Administrative Actions
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On November 16, 2015, the Postal Service filed a notice, pursuant 
to 39 U.S.C. 3622 and 39 CFR part 3010, of plans to implement five 
temporary promotions and associated classification changes.\1\ The 
effective dates of the promotions vary, the first two of which are 
scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2016. Notice at 1.
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    \1\ United States Postal Service Notice of Market-Dominant Price 
Adjustment, November 16, 2015 (Notice).
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II. Overview

A. Filing Details

    The Postal Service's filing consists of a Notice, which the Postal 
Service

[[Page 73246]]

represents provides the data and information required under 39 CFR 
3010.12; three attachments to the Notice; and two sets of workpapers 
filed as library references. Attachment A presents the proposed Mail 
Classification Schedule changes (in legislative format) related to the 
five promotions. Attachment B provides a 2016 promotions calendar with 
detailed descriptions of the five promotions. Attachment C outlines the 
Postal Service's price cap calculation. The Postal Service also 
provides library references in support of its assertion that the 
temporary promotions comply with the price cap.\2\
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    \2\ Library Reference USPS-LR-R2016-2/1, November 16, 2015. 
Library Reference USPS-LR-R2016-2/2, November 16, 2015.
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B. Planned Temporary Promotions

    The Postal Service seeks approval for the following five promotions 
for the periods indicated:
     Emerging and Advanced Technology/Video in Print Promotion 
(March-August 2016);
     Tactile, Sensory, and Interactive Mailpiece Engagement 
Promotion (March-August 2016);
     Earned Value Reply Mail Promotion (April-June 2016);
     Mobile Shopping Promotion (July-December 2016); and
     Personalized Color Transpromo Promotion (July-December 
2016).

Notice at 3-6. The Postal Service asserts that these five promotions 
are continuations of the calendar year (CY) 2015 technology promotions 
and the Earned Value Reply Mail promotion approved by the Commission in 
Docket No. R2015-4.\3\ Three promotions apply to First-Class Mail 
products: Emerging and Advanced Technology/Video in Print Promotion; 
Earned Value Reply Mail Promotion; and Personalized Color Transpromo 
Promotion. Four promotions apply to Standard Mail products: Emerging 
and Advanced Technology/Video in Print Promotion; Tactile, Sensory, and 
Interactive Mailpiece Engagement Promotion; Earned Value Reply Mail 
Promotion; and Mobile Shopping Promotion.
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    \3\ Id. at 2. See also Docket No. R2015-4, Order No. 2365, Order 
on Price Adjustments for First-Class Mail Products and Related Mail 
Classification Changes, February 24, 2015; Docket No. R2015-4, Order 
No. 2472, Order on Revised Price Adjustments for Standard Mail, 
Periodicals, and Package Services Products and Related Mail 
Classification Changes, May 7, 2015.
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    The Postal Service states that its price cap calculation reflects 
the expiration of the CY 2015 First-Class Mail and Standard Mail 
promotions and the renewal of those promotions in CY 2016. Notice at 6. 
The Postal Service asserts that there is no change in the unused price 
adjustment authority because the Notice is limited to continuing the 
promotions offered in 2015. Id.
    In its Notice, the Postal Service provides a calculation of its new 
overall price adjustment authority for First-Class Mail and Standard 
Mail. Combining the unused price adjustment authority with the 
inflation-based price adjustment authority, the Postal Service 
calculates that there will be 0.074 percent in unused pricing authority 
available for First-Class Mail and 0.104 percent available for Standard 
Mail. Id. at 9, Table 1.
    The Postal Service asserts the five temporary promotions do not 
affect workshare discounts. Id. at 12. Since the program does not 
exclude any mailers, the Postal Service also asserts the promotions do 
not affect compliance with any preferred price requirement. Id.

III. Initial Administrative Actions

    Public notice. The Commission hereby provides public notice of the 
Postal Service's filing pursuant to rule 3010.11(a) and establishes 
Docket No. R2016-2 to consider the planned promotions for market 
dominant postal products and related classification changes identified 
in the Postal Service's Notice filed November 16, 2015. The Commission 
invites comments from interested persons on whether the Notice is 
consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3622, and the requirements of 39 CFR part 
3010. Comments are due no later than December 7, 2015. Pursuant to 39 
U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Elisabeth S. Shellan to represent 
the interests of the general public (Public Representative) in this 
proceeding.
    Availability of documents. The Commission has posted the Postal 
Service's Notice and associated library references on its Web site at 
http://www.prc.gov. The Commission will post documents the Postal 
Service submits in this docket on its Web site, along with related 
Commission documents, comments, or other submissions.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. R2016-2 to consider the 
planned temporary promotions for market dominant postal products and 
related classification changes identified in the Postal Service's 
Notice filed November 16, 2015.
    2. Comments on the planned temporary promotions and related 
classification changes are due no later than December 7, 2015.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Elisabeth S. Shellan is appointed to 
serve as an officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to 
represent the interests of the general public in this proceeding.
    4. The Commission directs the Secretary to arrange for prompt 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Stacy L. Ruble,
Secretary.
Commissioner Goldway, abstaining.
[FR Doc. 2015-29833 Filed 11-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P