[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31929-31930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14423]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

39 CFR Part 3050

[Docket No. RM2017-9; Order No. 3994]


Periodic Reporting

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent filing requesting that the 
Commission initiate an informal rulemaking proceeding to consider 
changes to an analytical method for use in periodic reporting (Proposal 
Five). This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public 
comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: August 16, 2017.

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. Proposal Five
III. Notice and Comment
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On June 30, 2017, the Postal Service filed a petition pursuant to 
39 CFR 3050.11 requesting the Commission to initiate an informal 
rulemaking proceeding to consider proposed changes to an analytical 
method related to periodic reports.\1\ The Petition identifies the 
proposed analytical method changes filed in this docket as Proposal 
Five.
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    \1\ Petition of the United States Postal Service for the 
Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed Changes in 
Analytical Principles (Proposal Five), June 30, 2017 (Petition).
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II. Proposal Five

    Background. The Postal Service currently uses sampling from the In-
Office Cost System (IOCS) to divide accrued city carrier costs between 
letter routes and special purpose routes (SPRs). Petition at 2.
    Proposal. The Postal Service proposes to replace IOCS sampling data 
with more comprehensive census data from the Time and Attendance 
Collection System (TACS) to determine the share of costs for letter 
routes and SPRs. Id. Proposal Five would not change any other costing 
methodologies. Id. at 3.
    Rationale and impact. The Postal Service states that use of TACS 
census data would reduce the variability of statistical estimates of 
costs by route group due to sampling. Id. The Postal Service states 
further that practical challenges in implementing IOCS sampling may 
lead to systematic errors in IOCS-based estimates of total costs

[[Page 31930]]

for carrier work assignments, including route group totals. Id. Table 1 
purports to show the quarterly impact Proposal Five would have had on 
costs of the two route groups in FY 2016. See id. at 4-5. Table 2 shows 
the alleged impact on product costs. See id. at 5-7.

III. Notice and Comment

    The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2017-9 for consideration of 
matters raised by the Petition. More information on the Petition may be 
accessed via the Commission's Web site at http://www.prc.gov. 
Interested persons may submit comments on the Petition and Proposal 
Five no later than August 16, 2017. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Lawrence 
Fenster is designated as officer of the Commission (Public 
Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in 
this proceeding.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2017-9 for consideration 
of the matters raised by the Petition of the United States Postal 
Service for the Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed Changes 
in Analytical Principles (Proposal Five), filed June 30, 2017.
    2. Comments by interested persons in this proceeding are due no 
later than August 16, 2017.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Lawrence 
Fenster to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public 
Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in 
this docket.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Ruth Ann Abrams,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-14423 Filed 7-10-17; 8:45 am]
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