[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24445-24446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11366]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
39 CFR Part 3050
[Docket No. RM2018-4; Order No. 4610]
Periodic Reporting
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
One). This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public
comment, and takes other administrative steps.
DATES:
Comments are due: June 13, 2018.
Reply Comments are due: June 20, 2018.
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 One
III. Notice and Comment
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction
On May 17, 2018, the Postal Service filed a petition pursuant to 39
CFR 3050.11 requesting that the Commission initiate a rulemaking
proceeding to consider changes to analytical principles relating to
periodic reports and compliance determinations.\1\ The Petition
identifies the proposed analytical method changes filed in this docket
as Proposal One.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Petition of the United States Postal Service for the
Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed Changes in
Analytical Principles (Proposal One), May 17, 2018 (Petition).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Proposal One
Background. Proposal One relates to sampling procedures for the
Delivery Point Sequenced (DPS) portion of the Rural Carrier Cost System
(RCCS) data used for the distribution of rural carrier costs within the
Cost and Revenue Analysis (CRA) Report. Petition at 1. The RCCS is a
continuous, ongoing cross-sectional statistical study, or probability
sample of rural carrier route-days. Id. Proposal One at 1. For each
selected route-day, a sample of mail is selected, and for each selected
mailpiece, characteristics are recorded directly into a portable
microcomputer. Id. RCCS data are primarily used to distribute rural
carrier costs among the products that rural carriers deliver. Id. at 2.
The Origin-Destination Information System--Revenue, Pieces, and
Weight (ODIS-RPW) used to estimate volume and revenue is also a
probability-based destinating mail sampling system in which data
collectors also record mail characteristics from sampled mailpieces.
Id. Data collectors record mail characteristics using digitally
captured images of letter-shaped and card-shaped mail, thereby
eliminating the need for manual sampling of DPS letters and cards. Id.
Mailpiece information obtained from ODIS-RPW digital sampling is
similar to RCCS DPS data elements, including the destinating carrier
route number. Id.
Proposal. Proposal One involves a methodology change in RCCS data
collection procedures and in the volume proportion estimation
procedures used for cost distribution for certain DPS mail. Id. at 1.
Proposal One is similar to Proposal Nine approved by the Commission in
Docket No. RM2017-13, which proposed use of digital image samples for
the City Carrier Cost System (CCCS).\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Id. Docket No. RM2017-13, Order on Analytical Principles
Used in Periodic Reporting (Proposal Nine), December 15, 2017 (Order
No. 4278).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposal One would allow utilization of the same digital data
(regarding DPS pieces destined for delivery by rural routes) currently
employed by ODIS-RPW to simultaneously enhance the RCCS estimation of
delivered DPS volumes and eliminate the need to manually sample a large
portion of DPS mail. Petition, Proposal One at 2. Details about the
mapping of products to mailcodes are set forth in the RCCS Digital
Mailcode Flowchart Excel file electronically attached to the Petition.
The RCCS Digital System documentation electronically attached to
Proposal One as a PDF document provides more details on the proposed
[[Page 24446]]
procedures. For rural routes in ZIP Codes that are not included in the
ODIS-RPW digital sampling frame, the current methodology of manually
sampling DPS mail would continue, and those estimates would be combined
with the digital DPS estimates to produce the distribution key for DPS
mail used to apportion street activity costs to categories of mail in
Cost Segment 10. Id. at 3.
Rationale and impact. The Postal Service states that including
ODIS-RPW digital data would greatly enhance RCCS DPS estimates and
would substantially magnify the benefits of utilizing digital data
already approved by the Commission. Id. RCCS data collectors on most
RCCS tests would no longer have to take the time to pull sample
mailpieces from DPS letter trays. Id. This would allow them more time
to devote to sampling other mail types, like parcels and cased letters
and flats. Id. at 3-4. This could also help avoid delays of carriers
leaving the office to deliver mail. Id. at 4.
The automated, systematic method of collecting images of DPS letter
and cards used to collect the sample would reduce the risk of
undetected sampling errors, and the retention of the mailpiece images
for 30 days would permit review and post-analysis by data collectors
and supervisors. Id. Detailed information regarding the rational and
impact of Proposal One, Rural Carrier Cost System--Digital DPS
Statistical Documentation, is attached to the Petition as a PDF
document. A table, Impact of Proposal One, included in the Petition
also compares the FY 2017 DPS distribution key proportions and
estimates the impact on unit costs from the proposal. Id. at 5. The
Postal Service states that the table and an electronically attached
Excel file demonstrate that the expected impact of Proposal One would
be minimal. Id. at 4.
III. Notice and Comment
The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2018-4 for consideration of
matters raised by the Petition. More information on the Petition may be
accessed via the Commission's website at http://www.prc.gov. Interested
persons may submit comments on the Petition and Proposal One no later
than June 13, 2018. Reply comments are due no later than June 20, 2018.
Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Lawrence Fenster is designated as an 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. RM2018-4 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 One), filed May 17, 2018.
2. Comments by interested persons in this proceeding are due no
later than June 13, 2018.
3. Reply comments are due no later than June 20, 2018.
4. 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.
5. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the
Federal Register.
By the Commission.
Stacy L. Ruble,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-11366 Filed 5-25-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P