[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20540-20541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08031]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. MT2019-1; Order No. 5870]


Market Test of Experimental Product

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is recognizing a recently filed Postal Service 
request for extension of the Market Test of Experimental Product--Plus 
One. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public 
comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: May 14, 2021.

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. Background
III. Notice of Filing
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On September 20, 2019, the Commission authorized the Postal Service 
to proceed with a 2-year market test of an experimental product called 
Plus One, which is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2021.\1\ Plus 
One is an advertising card that is mailed as an add-on mailpiece with a 
USPS Marketing Mail Letters marriage mail envelope containing multiple 
advertising mailpieces.\2\ On April 13, 2021, the Postal Service filed 
a request pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3641 and 39 CFR 3045.11 to extend the 
duration of the Plus One market test.\3\
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    \1\ Order Authorizing Plus One Market Test, September 20, 2019, 
at 15 (Order No. 5239).
    \2\ United States Postal Service Notice of Market Test of 
Experimental Product--Plus One, August 13, 2019, at 1.
    \3\ United States Postal Service Request for Extension of Market 
Test, April 13, 2021 (Request).
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II. Background

    The Postal Service requests a 12-month extension of the Plus One 
market test, which if approved would set a new expiration date of 
September 30, 2022. Request at 2. It asserts that the Plus One market 
test meets the criteria for granting an extension under 39 U.S.C. 
3641(d)(2) and 39 CFR 3045.11. Id. at 1. It states that the extension 
is ``necessary to determine the feasibility or desirability of the 
[Plus One] experimental product and inform any Postal Service decision 
to create a permanent product.'' Id.
    The Postal Service asserts that the extension is necessary for 
three reasons. First, the market test began right before the first wave 
of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, which disrupted all mail 
generally and USPS Marketing Mail specifically. Id. at 2. It states 
that the sharp decline in USPS Marketing Mail affected Plus One volumes 
and limited the Postal Service's ability to collect data for a full 
year. Id. It notes that it needs more time to collect meaningful data 
to compensate for the decline in mail volume that occurred during the 
pandemic. Id.
    Second, the Postal Service asserts that if it decides to add Plus 
One to the Market Dominant product list as a permanent product, it 
would need more time to finalize the criteria for the permanent product 
and to program Information Technology solutions to manage the permanent 
product. Id. The Postal Service notes that mailers would also need time 
to adjust their own systems accordingly. Id. Third, the Postal Service 
states that it ``would like to minimize any potential gap between the 
end of the market test's operational run and the availability of a 
potential, new, permanent product.'' Id. It notes that such a gap could 
limit small businesses from advertising with the product and impede the 
ability of current Plus One users to maintain their client base. Id.
    In the Request, the Postal Service provides information required by 
39 CFR 3045.11(b)(3) and (b)(4). It states the total revenue received 
by the Postal Service from the Plus One market test was $4.87 million 
during FY 2020 and $2.05 million during FY 2021, Quarter 1. Id. at 2-3. 
It estimates that it will collect $7.70 million during FY 2021 if 
market trends and customer adoption metrics reflected in the FY 2021, 
Quarter 1 data collection report continue through FY 2021. Id. at 3. It 
estimates it will receive $10.8 million through FY 2022. Id.
    The Postal Service concludes that the Plus One market test meets 
the criteria for an extension and asks that the Commission grant the 
extension to allow the Postal Service to continue collecting Plus One 
market test data and determine the feasibility and desirability of the 
experimental product. Id.

[[Page 20541]]

III. Notice of Filing

    The Commission will continue to use Docket No. MT2019-1 to consider 
matters raised by the Postal Service's Request. The Commission invites 
comments on whether the Request complies with applicable statutory and 
regulatory requirements, including 39 U.S.C. 3641, 39 CFR part 3045, 
and Order No. 5239. Comments are due by May 14, 2021. The public 
portions of filings in this docket can be accessed via the Commission's 
website (http://www.prc.gov).
    39 U.S.C. 505 requires the Commission to designate an officer of 
the Commission to represent the interests of the general public in all 
public proceedings (Public Representative). The Commission previously 
appointed Gregory Stanton to serve as the Public Representative in this 
proceeding. He remains appointed to serve as the Public Representative.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Gregory Stanton remains appointed to 
serve as the Public Representative in this proceeding.
    2. Comments are due by than May 14, 2021.
    3. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this Order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-08031 Filed 4-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P