[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29600-29601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11517]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. N2021-2; Order No. 5900]


Service Standard Changes

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is acknowledging 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 Package Services. This 
document informs the public of this proceeding and the pre-filing 
conference, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Pre-filing conference: June 8, 2021, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., 
Eastern Daylight Time--Virtual Online.

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 May 25, 
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 Package Services.\1\ Due to the COVID-19 
pandemic, the conference will be held virtually on June 8, 2021, from 
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). See Notice at 1, 3. 
At this conference, Postal Service representatives capable of 
discussing 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

[[Page 29601]]

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 June 1, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. EDT to register.''
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    \1\ Notice of Pre-Filing Conference, May 25, 2021 (Notice). 
First-Class Package Services ``is a mailing service available for 
lightweight packages--for retail mailers, the weight of the package 
cannot exceed 13 ounces; for commercial mailers, the weight of the 
package cannot exceed 15.999 ounces.'' Notice at 1, n.1.
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    The Commission establishes Docket No. N2021-2 to consider the 
Postal Service's proposed changes to the service standards for First-
Class Package Services. In conjunction with the announcement of its 10-
Year Strategic Plan,\2\ the Postal Service proposes to revise the 
existing service standards for First-Class Package Services, which 
would ``generally affect service on a nationwide or substantially 
nationwide basis.'' Notice at 1 (quoting 39 U.S.C. 3661(b)). The Postal 
Service asserts that its proposed approach would be similar to the 
changes proposed to Market Dominant First-Class Mail (letter- and flat-
shaped mailpieces) in Docket N2021-1, because the First-Class Package 
Services service standards would also be adjusted to account for 
additional drive time between origin and destination processing 
facilities. See Notice at 2. However, the actual service standards that 
the Postal Service proposes to apply to First-Class Package Services 
would diverge from those proposed for First-Class Mail. See id.
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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 53, available at https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/delivering-for-america/assets/USPS_Delivering-For-America.pdf.
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    Specifically, the Postal Service states that its proposal for 
First-Class Package Services would expand the drive time for the 2-Day 
service standard to allow additional drive time to certain processing 
facilities. See id. Additionally, within the contiguous United States, 
the Postal Service states that its proposal would narrow the scope of 
the existing 3-Day service standard; instead the 4-Day and 5-Day 
service standards would apply to certain First-Class Package Services 
traveling longer distances between origin and destination processing 
facilities. Id. Moreover, within the non-contiguous United States and 
certain territories, the Postal Service plans to increase service 
standards by up to one day. Id. The Postal Service adds that a 4-Day 
service standard would apply for certain volume, while all other volume 
to non-contiguous destinations would be subject to the 5-Day service 
standard. Id.
    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. N2021-2.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3661(c) and 39 CFR 3020.111(d), the 
Commission appoints Mallory L. Smith to represent the interests of the 
general public (Public Representative) in this proceeding. Pursuant to 
39 CFR 3020.111(d), the Secretary shall arrange for publication of this 
Order in the Federal Register.
    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. N2021-2 to consider the 
Postal Service's proposed changes to the service standards for First-
Class Package Services.
    2. The Postal Service shall conduct a virtual pre-filing conference 
regarding its proposal on June 8, 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), Mallory L. 
Smith 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. 2021-11517 Filed 6-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P