[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16646-16649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06457]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. N2021-1; Order No. 5848]


Service Standard Changes

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission notices a filing by the Postal Service of its 
intent to conduct a pre-filing conference regarding its proposed 
changes to the service standards for First-Class Mail and end-to-end 
Periodicals. This document informs the public of this proceeding and 
the pre-filing conference, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Pre-filing conference: April 6, 2021, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., 
Virtual.

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: Pursuant to 39 CFR 3020.111(d), on March 23, 
2021, the Postal Service filed a notice of its intent to conduct a pre-
filing conference regarding its proposed changes to the service 
standards for First-Class Mail and end-to-end Periodicals.\1\ Due to 
the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference will be held virtually on April 
6, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). See 
Notice at 1, 4. At this conference, Postal Service representatives 
capable of discussing

[[Page 16647]]

the policy rationale for its proposal will be available to educate the 
public and to allow interested persons to provide feedback to the 
Postal Service that it can use to modify or refine its proposal before 
formally filing a request for an advisory opinion from the Commission. 
See id. The registration instructions, which are available at https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america/#conference, 
direct interested persons to a website to register to participate using 
Zoom, and state that ``[s]pace is limited. Unless all available spaces 
are taken, you will have until March 30, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. EDT to 
register.''
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    \1\ Notice of Pre-Filing Conference, March 23, 2021 (Notice).
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    The Commission establishes Docket No. N2021-1 to consider the 
Postal Service's proposed changes to the service standards for First-
Class Mail and end-to-end Periodicals. In conjunction with the 
announcement of its 10-Year Strategic Plan,\2\ the Postal Service 
proposes to amend 39 CFR part 121 to revise the existing service 
standards for First-Class Mail and end-to-end Periodicals, which would 
``generally affect service on a nationwide or substantially nationwide 
basis.'' Notice at 1 (quoting 39 U.S.C. 3661(b)).
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    \2\ See United States Postal Service, Delivering for America: 
Our Vision and Ten-Year Plan to Achieve Financial Sustainability and 
Service Excellence, March 23, 2021, at 52, available at https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america/assets/USPS_Delivering-For-America.pdf.
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    For First-Class Mail within the contiguous United States, the 
Postal Service states that its proposal would narrow the scope of the 
existing 2-Day and 3-Day standards; instead 4-Day and 5-Day standards 
would apply to certain First-Class Mail traveling longer distances 
between origin and destination. Notice at 2. The Postal Service states 
that its proposal would not affect First-Class Mail subject to the 
existing 1-Day (Overnight) standard. Id. The Postal Service plans to 
apply a 3-6-Day standard to certain end-to-end Periodicals merged with 
First-Class Mail for surface transportation, specifying that the 
Periodicals standard would equal the sum of 1 day plus the applicable 
First-Class Mail service standard. Id. at 3.
    Specifically, the Postal Service proposes to apply the following 
standards to First-Class Mail.
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN30MR21.000

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    The Postal Service must file its formal request for an advisory 
opinion with the Commission at least 90 days before implementing any of 
the proposed changes. 39 CFR 3020.112. This formal request must certify 
that the Postal Service has made good faith efforts to address the 
concerns raised at the pre-filing conference and meet other content 
requirements. Id. section 3020.113. After the Postal Service files the 
formal request for an advisory opinion, the Commission will set forth a 
procedural schedule and provide additional information in a notice and 
order that will be published in the Federal Register. Id. section 
3020.110. Before issuing its advisory opinion, the Commission must 
provide an opportunity for a formal, on-the-record hearing pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 556 and 557. 39 U.S.C. 3661(c). The procedural rules in 39 CFR 
part 3020 apply to Docket No. N2021-1.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3661(c) and 39 CFR 3020.111(d), the 
Commission appoints Samuel M. Poole to represent the interests of the 
general public (Public Representative) in this proceeding. Pursuant to 
39 CFR 3020.111(d), the Secretary shall arrange

[[Page 16649]]

for publication of this Order in the Federal Register.
    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. N2021-1 to consider the 
Postal Service's proposed changes to the service standards for First-
Class Mail and end-to-end Periodicals.
    2. The Postal Service shall conduct a virtual pre-filing conference 
regarding its proposal on April 6, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 
Eastern Daylight Time.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3661(c) and 39 CFR 3020.111(d), Samuel M. 
Poole is appointed to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public 
Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in 
this proceeding.
    4. Pursuant to 39 CFR 3020.111(d), the Secretary shall arrange for 
publication of this order in the Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-06457 Filed 3-29-21; 8:45 am]
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