[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30252-30253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13510]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. IM2019-1; Order No. 5127]


Section 407 Proceeding

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is establishing a docket to solicit comments 
for the purpose of developing its views on whether certain proposals 
for the Third Extraordinary Congress are consistent with the standards 
and criteria for modern rate regulation established by the Commission 
under applicable sections of the United States Code. This notice 
informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes 
other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: August 1, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's

[[Page 30253]]

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. Initial Commission Action
III. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On April 10, 2019, the Universal Postal Union's (UPU's) Council of 
Administration agreed to hold a postal ballot on whether to convene an 
Extraordinary Congress on the UPU terminal dues system; specifically, 
terminal dues for Inbound Letter Post small packets and bulky 
letters.\1\ UPU members voted in favor of holding an Extraordinary 
Congress, scheduled for September 24-25, 2019, in Geneva, 
Switzerland.\2\ Before the United States concludes any treaty, 
convention, or amendment that establishes a market dominant rate or 
classification, the Secretary of State must request that the Commission 
provide views on whether such treaties, conventions, or amendments are 
consistent with the standards and criteria for modern rate regulation 
established by the Commission under 39 U.S.C. 3622. 39 U.S.C. 407(c). 
Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 407(c)(1) and 39 CFR part 3017, the Commission 
establishes Docket No. IM2019-1 for the purpose of developing its views 
on whether certain proposals for the Third Extraordinary Congress are 
consistent with the standards and criteria for modern rate regulation 
established by the Commission under 39 U.S.C. 3622.
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    \1\ Press Release, UPU, UPU Member Countries Vote to Hold Geneva 
Extraordinary Congress on Terminal Dues System (June 7, 2019) 
(available at http://news.upu.int/no_cache/nd/upu-member-countries-vote-to-hold-geneva-extraordinary-congress-on-terminal-dues-system/
).
    \2\ Formal invitation to the Third UPU Extraordinary Congress in 
Geneva, Switzerland, and Related Information from Bishar A. Hussein, 
Director Gen., UPU, to UPU Member Countries (June 15, 2019) 
(available at http://www.upu.int/uploads/tx_sbdownloader/genevaCongressInvitationLetterEn.pdf).
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II. Initial Commission Action

    Establishment of docket. Part 3017 of title 39 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations codifies procedures related to the development of 
the Commission's section 407 views.\3\ Although the Secretary of State 
has not made a request as of yet, the Commission, pursuant to rule 
3017.3(a) establishes this docket to ``solicit comments on the general 
principles that should guide the Commission's development of views on 
relevant proposals, in a general way, and on specific relevant 
proposals, if the Commission is able to make these available.'' 39 CFR 
3017.3(a).
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    \3\ See Docket No. RM2015-14, Order Adopting Final Rules on 
Procedures Related to Commission Views, December 30, 2015 (Order No. 
2960). See also 81 FR 869 (January 8, 2016). The rules in part 3017 
took effect on February 8, 2016.
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    Comments. Rule 3017.4(a) provides that the Commission ``shall 
establish a deadline for comments upon establishment of the docket that 
is consistent with timely submission of the Commission's views to the 
Secretary of State.'' 39 CFR 3017.4 (a). The Third Extraordinary 
Congress will be held from September 24-25, 2019. To ensure timely 
submission of the Commission's views to the Department of State, the 
Commission establishes August 1, 2019, as the deadline for submission 
of comments on the principles that should guide development of its 
views, as well as those on the consistency of proposals that relate to 
a market dominant rate or classification with the standards and 
criteria of 39 U.S.C. 3622. Comments are to be submitted in the above 
captioned docket via the Commission's website at http://www.prc.gov 
unless a request for waiver is approved. For assistance with filing, 
contact the Commission's docket section at 202-789-6846 or 
[email protected].
    Public Representative. Section 505 of title 39 requires the 
designation of an officer of the Commission (public representative) to 
represent the interests of the general public in all public 
proceedings. The Commission designates Kenneth E. Richardson as Public 
Representative in this proceeding.
    Availability of documents. Pursuant to rule 3017.3(b), the 
Commission will post documents in this docket when the Commission 
determines such documents are applicable and are able to be made 
publicly available.
    Federal Register publication. Rule 3017.3(c) requires publication 
in the Federal Register of the notice establishing a docket authorized 
under part 3017. 39 CFR 3017.3(c). Pursuant to this rule, the 
Commission directs the Secretary of the Commission to arrange for 
prompt publication of this Order in the Federal Register.

III. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. IM2019-1 for purposes 
related to the development of section 407(c)(1) views and invites 
public comments related to this effort, as described in the body of 
this Order.
    2. Comments are due no later than August 1, 2019.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Kenneth E. Richardson is appointed to 
serve as an officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to 
represent the interests of the general public in this docket.
    4. The Secretary is directed to post documents in this docket when 
the Commission determines such documents are applicable and are able to 
be made publicly available.
    5. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Stacy L. Ruble,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-13510 Filed 6-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P